It's true that there has been few positives about the last year, however one emerging trend from 2020 that has seen an incredible growth in interest is "Ecotherapy". With people being made to stay at home and the only respite being to get outside in our local area for a walk, more and more people began to recognise the incredible benefits of connecting with nature. Although not a new concept, "Ecotherapy" is now recognised as a formal type of therapeutic treatment which involves doing outdoor activities in nature, usually with a trained therapist to guide you.
Ecotherapy is based on the practice of being in nature and comes from the belief that as humans, we are an intrinsic part of our natural environment and hold a deep connection to the earth. By intentionally connecting with nature, we are able to experience improvements in both our physical and emotional well-being.
Spending time in nature or bringing it into your everyday life can create a raft of benefits, including:
improving your mood
reducing feelings of stress or anger
helps you take time out and feel more relaxed
encourages mindfulness.
improve your physical health
improves your confidence and self-esteem
helps you be more active
helps you to feel more connected to your environment.
You can of course choose to access this through a formal program, however, nurturing yourself through nature, is something that we can all do. It doesn't need to be complicated, expensive or time consuming. The important thing is that you do what feels right for you.
There are so many ways to connect with nature from simply taking a walk in your local park, a day at the beach or a picnic in the woods. Here are a few other ideas:
Animal Therapy.
We are a nation of Pet lovers and there’s nothing like our furry friends! So it’s not surprising that that there is a ton of scientific evidence that supports the benefits of spending time with animals to help improve your mental health and general well-being. Connecting with our furry friends is a judgement free zone and takes us away from the stresses and strains of human life. Taking time out of your busy schedule to walk the dog or play with your cat can have an extremely calming effect. But if you don’t own a pet, don’t worry. Volunteering at an animal sanctuary, visiting a petting zoo or taking up horse riding classes can all reap the same benefits.
Blue Mindfulness.
‘Blue Mindfulness’ is connected to activities spent around water. Water has the power to soothe and calm us making us feel more content and at one with nature. Blue Mindfulness is best achieved through contact with natural water but can include everything from swimming in the sea, a paddle in your local stream, a long salt bath or a walk along the river.
Wildness Therapy
Getting back to nature is great for the soul. Rather than being cooped up indoors, you can get a good dose of exposure to natural light patterns and fresh air which can make you feel more relaxed instantly. It's also a great way to have a technology detox. Spending time under the stars and immersing yourself in the beauty of nature can leave you feeling totally revitalised. Combine your camping experience with a host of nature activities and you will feel like a new person.
Forest Bathing
Forest Bathing or Shinrin Yoku, is the Japanese practice of simply being quiet and calm amongst the trees, observing nature around you whilst breathing deeply to help de-stress and boost health and wellbeing in a natural way. Forest bathing needs to be no more complicated than simply going for a wander in your local woods or park. The only difference is that you take the time to really focus on the natural world around you using all of your senses to really connect with nature.
Horticulture Therapy
Horticulture therapy includes any activity that involves gardening, growing and caring for plants. If you are lucky enough to have a garden then simply spending time outside caring for your plants and flowers has huge benefits. You can plant window boxes, grow vegetables or simply start a small herb garden. No outside space, not a problem , houseplants have a host of wonderful health benefits, you could create a terrarium or just pop plants around your home, Gardening can also be a very social activity so you could involve yourself in a planting project or creating a community garden in your town or village.
There are so many ways to connect with nature but one thing is for sure, whatever you do, you will certainly feel the benefits.
Love and light
Sharon x x x
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