India, June 5 -- Meditation is often thought of as a practice that takes place indoors, away from distractions and noise. But some of the world's best-known spiritual teachers have suggested that nature itself can become a powerful setting for mindfulness.

According to the Mayo Clinic, mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. While this can be practiced almost anywhere.

The late Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh and the father of mindfulness frequently wrote about mindful walking and the importance of being fully present. Rather than treating a walk as a way to get from one place to another, he encouraged people to pay attention to each step, their breathing, and the world around them.

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