Transform your life through nature connection
Why nature?
Nature has proven extremely beneficial to our minds, bodies, and spirits. Here l will give you a snapshot or glance of some of the real benefits we can derive from being in nature, even for a few minutes per day. It is important to consider what nature actually means as getting to a woodland or forest or even beside the ocean may be difficult for many. So, l would consider spending time* in or with nature to include the following:
- Visiting a national park, forest, woodland, or ocean spot if done safely, can be extremely beneficial tour health and wellbeing.
- Visiting your local park or an area with trees and spots for some quiet
reflection, like your garden, this can be very healing. Some people also pop
along to a local community garden or have an allotment they spend time at. - For those that are housebound or feel going out in nature may be difficult, that does not mean you cannot benefit from nature. Enjoying nature programmes and incorporating natural materials and photographs into your home spaces can be particularly good for enhancing your wellbeing and be a mental health support that reduces sadness, anxiousness, and stress. Please look at the workshop section if you want to find out more about upcoming workshops on this.
As an eco-therapist this is something l am very passionate about as l believe
everyone should look at the resources around them to obtain the benefits of
nature no matter their situation.
* SAFETY DISCLAIMER – If you go on walks remember to take normal precautions – tell someone where you are, keep your location to a safe trail and take your phone and safety measures or equipment, where needed. This is key to creating a peaceful, confident space.
Nature and its Benefits
What can you derive from incorporating more nature in your lives?
Physical benefits:
- Reduces blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels.
- For those with a medical condition or recovering from surgery, overlooking
natural spaces reduces pain and provides as an alternative to over – using pharmaceutical drugs. - Walking can add to this, enhancing our cardiovascular health, immune
system, and digestion, building our stamina, strengthening your bones and joints, helping us to manage our weight as well as other benefits.
Benefits to our mind and sensory systems:
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Promotes attention, keeping you focused in your personal and work lives.
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Reduces stress by aligning our minds with what works best, images like trees, flowers and other natural systems relaxes our mind without over stimulation.
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Boosts creativity to enliven our senses and promotes diverse problem solving.
Spiritual benefits:
- Admiring awe-inspiring and powerful moments in nature can create a sense of calm, vastness, and reason, which can be life changing for many.
- But everyday moments in nature can be a gentle pathway to managing our
emotions, calming our busy minds, stopping ruminating thoughts that can create suffering and help us to ground ourselves when we feel we lose control.
For many of us, living without nature, we become trapped in overthinking, grasping for temporary comforts and avoiding what brings us discomfort or stress not knowing a way out. This is where eco-therapy comes in, to enhance your connection with nature and increase your knowledge and skills.
For more information on the benefits of nature and how to connect to nature, please click on the Workshops section.
Why the seasons?
For me, my dance with the seasons has been one that has led to me seeking a gentle life every day, I follow the seasons very closely and align my yearly goals and aspirations with each natural season. What is key to remember is that a tree would never blossom in flower every spring or fruit every summer if it did not experience the elements of autumn or the stillness of winter. Just like these trees or the flowers that grow around their roots, we too need the seasons to become who we are meant to be.
For more information on this model of change please click on workshops to find out more.
Eco-therapeutic activities you can do at home
There are many activities that are accessible and free that we can do at home or outdoors that bring us closer to nature. This is something we cover in the courses but let us look at some simple ones:
- Walking your dog is an opportunity to be outside. Rather than letting your dog walk around the garden, put on their leash and go for that walk, observe the trees around you, and look for changes in the seasons. Experience the colder winds of winter, the crunch of the autumnal leaves under your feet, the colours of a cherry tree in spring or the colours and smells of the fruit stalls in summer. These are moments that remind you that you are in the here and now and life is happening around you. Sometimes we are so stressed or anxious, we forget how powerful this is.
- Collect and develop your sensory connection to the smells, sensations,
colours and sounds of nature. Nothing brings me closer to autumn than
looking at a photograph l took of an autumn’s day many years ago, l found a bench in the quietest part of a park and it was covered in red, yellow and
orange leaves, sitting there brought much joy to my heart and now in warm summers night, this image keeps me slightly cooler and reminds me of the smell of the trees and the texture of the leaves in my hand. Beautiful. - Keep herbs on the window, this is a huge reason why l cook and the smell of basil leaves on a summers afternoon just stimulates my taste buds and before l know it l am making a salad with tomatoes and some mozzarella cheese.
Heaven.
Aligning ourselves with the seasons can be simple, everyday things that are
accessible and easy or can include more adventurous activities that can leave you feeling completely replenished.
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To receive short thoughtful notes from me into your inbox from time to time, along with news of some latest research or articles about nature or to find out more about new or upcoming workshops, please do subscribe to my mailing list. I write these myself, with you in mind, when I have something inspiring or interesting to share. I promise not to bombard you and will never share your information with anyone else. Of course you can unsubscribe at any time.
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