Nature is one of the easiest places to practice mindfulness, and the women behind Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats encourage people to try it.

“Mindfulness is getting intentional without judgment,” Bryana Cook said.

“I think all of us can think of a time when we’ve been in nature where we really notice like the feel of the water on our skin or the temperature or a big breeze coming through,” Amanda Thoe said. “Sometimes just stepping out of the busyness of your daily life, you start to settle into noticing what can you see, hear, smell, you know, the sensation.”

Boreal Bliss takes groups to places like Sugar Lake Lodge or even more adventurous excursions into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. They encourage phone-free experiences. But mindfulness can be practiced without taking a weekend away.

“50 to 80 percent of the time, we’re mind wandering. That’s what studies show,” Thoe said “And so it’s kind of our default mode. When you get in a car and you get somewhere and you think, how did I get here? You read a page and you’re like, I did not retain any of that. Yes. So that’s default mode. And then focus mode is kind of when we’re activating this mindfulness.”

Boreal Bliss summer retreats may be full, but fall signups are available.