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Walk in the rain

  • When we walk in nature we are literally ‘touched’ by nature. It’s a very enriching experience which awakens our sense of touch and reminds us that we are embodied beings, especially when we walk in the rain. 
  • The pounding of rain drops and the increased moisture cause compounds to be released and combined in the air we breathe, and inhaling them can have a profound impact on our well-being.
  • Our sense of smell is also awakened. Rain releases scents from trees, plants and soil, imbuing the landscape with complex fragrances.The fragrances come from compounds created and released by a group of oils which plants secrete to prevent them growing too fast in dry weather. The pungent ‘earth-after-rain’ scent is known as ‘petrichor’. In India this scent has been bottled as perfume, known as ‘mitti attar’ or ‘perfume of the earth’, for 50 years.
  • Scientists think other fragrances are produced as rain disturbs and shifts odoriferous molecules from different surfaces, including the tiny hairs on leaves that produce clean and astringent scents, which, when combined with earthy scents, create a relaxing fragrance. Stone and concrete in cities also produce scents when it rains, though not as pleasing as those in nature.
  • Rain washes away the last traces of pollution, and the air is cleaner during and just after a downpour. When rain falls each drop attracts hundreds of pollutant particles, including soot, and microscopic particles measuring 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5), making the air extremely fresh.
  • Rain also increases the negative-ion count in the air, which some scientists think can improve cognition, relaxation and mood. Studies suggest that negative ions (molecules which carry an extra charge and are found in abundance in forests and moving water) improve health, cognitive performance and longevity.
  • Rain mostly changes what and how we see. During a rainy walk, tree trunks glitter, leaves sparkle and petals glisten. Rain makes foliage and flowers translucent so that every vein and marking becomes visible. Flowers, boughs and feathered grasses shift shape, their heads arch and bow beneath the weight of water. A well-known walk becomes a very different experience stimulating our brain with a surge of dopamine.
  • One study suggests that we burn more calories when we do exercise in the rain. The scientists tested people’s blood and exhaled breath and found that ‘Minute ventilation, oxygen consumption and levels of plasma lactate and norepinephrine were significantly higher in the rain’ meaning that we have to work harder (using more calories) when it’s cold and wet. 
  • In Uganda male chimpanzees do ‘rain dances’ and no one knows why, but it reminds us of the intoxicating possibilities of rain. So, let’s go for a walk in the rain!

Source: 52 Ways to Walk: Annabel Streets – Bloomsbury Publishing

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