The Benefits of Meditation for Outdoor Education.

Outdoor education is not merely about learning outdoor skills; it should also involve self-reflective activities. Meditation is a technique used for self-reflection, has many proven psychological and physiological benefits, and would be a good addition to any wilderness program. Research has shown that the psychological benefits of meditation include access to theta brain wave states for optimal learning, decreased stress, and more positive self-concept. Physiological benefits include lowered heart rate and blood pressure, and decreased oxygen consumption. College students instructed in mindfulness meditation during outdoor education trips were less bored and more engaged in activities than those who did not receive training. Meditation is more readily understood if the word"meditation" is replaced with "awareness" or "mindfulness." Meditation is awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, and feelings through full engagement in the present moment. Concentration is required in all meditation practices; a basic difference between various meditation forms is the primary focus of concentration. Common meditation principles are regulation of posture, regulation of breath, and regulation of concentration by focusing on breath. Two meditations that students can use in the wilderness--mountain meditation and river meditation--are briefly described. (SV)