Healing Outdoors: How Summer Activities Support Concussion Recovery

Why stepping outside may be the most powerful thing you do for your brain today

You’re doing everything right, but still feel stuck.

You’ve been told to rest. To complete your rehabilitation routine. To wait it out.

But weeks—or even months—after your concussion, you’re still feeling foggy, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Bright lights and loud noises feel like too much. You can’t focus like you used to. 

And even “relaxing” feels like work.

You may be wondering… Is this just my new normal?

Let me gently offer a new possibility for the summer season:

You don’t need to do more. You may just need to go outside.

There’s a reason your body craves sunshine and quiet.

After a concussion, your nervous system becomes hyper-alert. 

Every day things like crowds, screens, and even conversations can feel like too much. Your brain is working overtime just to keep up.

What it needs is a break.

Not just rest in the dark, but rest with regulation.

That’s where nature comes in.

The summer season offers exactly what your healing brain needs:

• Gentle light (think morning or evening sun)

• Soft sounds (birds, wind, water)

• Grounding surfaces (grass, sand, soil)

• Space to breathe (literally and figuratively)

These aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re therapeutic inputs that help your nervous system switch out of “survival mode” and into healing.

Let’s talk about what “healing” actually looks like outside.

You don’t have to hike a mountain or train for a 5K.

In fact, the more overstimulated your system feels, the more important it is to slow down.

Here are 4 yoga therapy-informed ways to use summer outdoor activities as healing tools:

1. Sit and breathe in nature

Find a shady spot under a tree, on your porch, or at the park.

Sit or lie down and try this breath pattern:

• Inhale for 4 counts

• Exhale for 6 counts

• Repeat for 3–5 minutes

Listen to your body and what it needs. If the count above is too long, just breathe. Breathing helps calm your vagus nerve and bring down symptom flares like dizziness, racing thoughts, and sensitivity.

Bonus: Natural sounds like wind and birdsong support your brain’s ability to focus gently without overwhelm.

2. Go barefoot in the grass (aka grounding)

Your feet are rich with nerve endings that communicate safety or danger to your whole body.

When you walk barefoot on natural surfaces, you stimulate a sense of grounding and connection. This can reduce the “floaty” feeling many people describe post-concussion.

Start with 5–10 minutes (or whatever your body says is ok) on soft grass or sand. Add breath, and let your body settle.

3. Take a “sensory walk”

Instead of counting steps or tracking time, take a walk to notice.

What do you see, hear, smell, and feel?

Move slowly. Notice your breath. Let your awareness be soft and wide, not narrow and focused. This teaches your brain that not everything is urgent, and helps rebuild attention without pressure.

4. Use light wisely

Many concussion clients I work with become light-sensitive. But natural light—especially morning or golden-hour light—can help reset your circadian rhythm and improve sleep quality.

Try sitting outside for 10 minutes (or whatever your body says is ok) each morning without sunglasses, looking toward (but not directly at) the rising sun. Your nervous system loves routine and rhythm—and so does your healing brain.

You don’t have to heal alone (or in the dark).

You may feel like you’ve tried everything:

Western Medicine

Rest

Supplements

Wait and see

But the truth is, most recovery plans don’t include what your whole body needs—

• Nervous system regulation 

• Gentle, intentional movement 

• Connection to yourself in real time

That’s where yoga therapy can help.

I work with clients 1:1 and in small groups to create customized healing plans that meet you where you are—and grow with you as you recover.

We use breath, small movements, and stillness—often inspired by nature—to support your brain and body through every phase of healing.

This summer, permit yourself to heal differently.

Step outside.

Take a breath.

Let the sun hit your skin.

Let the ground hold your feet.

Let the breeze soften your nervous system.

Small steps are healing steps.

Want to bring yoga therapy into your recovery?

Book a 1:1 session

Join our summer recovery series

Or start with our free guide: “Moving Pain-Free: Ten Signals It’s Time to Try a Different Approach”

You don’t need to push harder—you just need the right support.