I can honestly say that being outside is my therapy and Mother Nature is my therapist.
Growing up I remember spending so much time outdoors. My mom would build gardens with my sister and I. We would press flowers, catch bugs, walk our dog, and play in the neighbourhood until the streetlights came on. We would go to the park, the beach, the lake, the sand dunes, on little hikes, and always doing things that allowed us to explore the world outdoors. Through the years I continue to be drawn to outdoor activities and pulled to spend as much time as I can being in nature. Over and over I have found comfort and healing through nature therapy. When I needed a break from studying, when life seemed overwhelming, or when traumatic events happened I would go to either the forest or the ocean and find peace. Walking the trails, breathing the fresh air, activating all my senses, and just taking in all the beauty around me I was able to move, flow, and think through many significant things in my life. There is just something so special about the magic you feel when in nature.
"...Over and over I have found comfort and healing through nature therapy."
I have always felt a strong connection to the Japanese art of Shinrin-yoku. Shinrin-Yoku is a Japanese practice coined in the 80s that translates to mean “forest bathing.” It is the art of taking in the atmosphere and energy of the forest. It is a practice of basking in natural environments and fully immersing all of your senses. HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT?!
Studies have shown positive physiological responses when people spend time in nature. It has been shown to lower cortisol levels, pulse rate, blood pressure, and sympathetic nervous system activity. The parasympathetic response is activated, immune function increases and people report to feel calmer and more relaxed, with decreased stress, anxiety and tension. Spending time in green spaces helps to promote happiness, emotional health, and overall well-being. There is more research needed but I believe it has immense healing, rehab, and preventative health potential. I mean how good do we know we feel after spending time in the forest, or park, or along the ocean. Being outside feels goooooood. So lace up your shoes, get outside, take some deep breaths, and let go of anything weighing you down. Here are three simple tips to remember when nature bathing:
1. Disconnect to re-connect
Maybe bring your phone along for safety reasons but keep it tucked away in your pocket or bag. Don’t be scrolling Instagram, checking your email, or responding to a text. In order to reconnect with nature, tune in, and realign your need to disconnect from technology and take breaks from all the screen time.
2. Allow all your senses to be activated
Another reason to leave technology behind is so that you can tap into all your senses. Feel the ground supporting you below. Smell the fresh forest air. See the light flickering through the leaves. Listen to the birds chirping, the squirrels buzzing about, and the breeze blowing through the trees. Feel the sunshine or maybe even raindrops on your face. Actually touch the bark, the rocks, the grass, the earth. What does it feel like? How do you feel? Using your senses allows you to be fully present. To be here. Right now. Focus on your breathing. Inhale allowing your lungs to expand in all directions with the life force energy around you. Exhale breathing out any stale air and all the tension you maybe didn’t even realize you were holding on to.
3. Give yourself freedom to explore
If possible get away from the city. Leave the bustling traffic, the honking horns, and construction sounds behind. Get into nature and maybe wander a bit. Put no pressure on yourself to do this a certain way. Let go of any expectations you have about what you are doing and just be there. Be present and see how that makes you feel. Observe what comes up for you. Notice the vibrancy and aliveness all around you. And then maybe even feel that within you. Connecting to nature allows you to connect to yourself. To remind you we are all part of this wild and natural world. We are all one.
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