A natural meditation setting improves compliance with mindfulness training

The setting matters in meditation, but most research has neglected it. Many mindfulness-based health interventions emphasize effortful attention training exercises in sparsely furnished indoor settings. However, many beginners with attention regulation problems struggle with the exercises and drop out. In contrast, restoration skills training (ReST) - a five-week course set in a garden environment - builds on mindfulness practices adapted to draw on restorative processes stimulated effortlessly in nature contacts. Expecting that the ReST approach will facilitate the introduction to mindfulness, we compared drop-out and homework completion records from four rounds of ReST vs. conventional mindfulness training (N = 139). Randomly assigned ReST participants had lower drop-out and more sustained homework completion over the course weeks. Supporting the theoretical assumptions, higher restorative environmental qualities and state mindfulness mediated the compliance differences. The improved acceptability with ReST means that more people can enjoy the long-term benefits of establishing a meditation practice.