The Restorative Power of Nature

I have three questions which I’d like you to think about.

·         When was the last time you stopped and consciously breathed air into your body?  

·         When did you last slow down to feel in tune with yourself?

·         When was the last time you reacted truly in the moment, fully aware of your thoughts and feelings?

If it’s been awhile or a bit hit and miss you could take advantage of a free of charge therapy.

The Restorative Power of Nature

With its great restorative power, nature has been proven to have a positive impact on our mental and physical health.  Nature is a much-needed food for our wellbeing, even a small amount of nature has a very positive effect and, people who connect with nature are generally happier, healthier and more creative than those that don’t.   Nature gives us a break from thinking, giving us more clarity to innovate and make better decisions.

WOW! this therapy is really great and free!  Yet it is widely accepted that we are becoming increasingly disconnected from nature.  We are surrounded by phones and technology which we use to ease our boredom or distract ourselves from real life.  A life which is fast moving and sometimes aggressive.  

We rush along in auto pilot from one task to another, racing, competitive, all consuming.  We get hooked on the adrenalin rush, we lose sight of ourselves, we become disconnected, loosing what’s important to us.  For some, it all becomes too much to bear.

 Life isn’t a race, life should be experienced and nature helps us to slow down and breathe.  Yes breathe!   

A study in Japan, monitored the effects of a practice called “Shinrin-yoku,” (forest-bathing).

During the study (which involved 280 people), scientists would send one half of the group into the forest, and the other half into the city.  And the next day they would swop over.

The scientists concluded those who spent their day in the forest were less stressed when they were in the forest than when they were in the city. 

I can often be found in the woods near my home with my dog and my camera. 

Walking helps me to declutter my over active mind and make sense of things which often worry me.  

I often leave my home feeling frazzled with a head jam packed with thoughts and overthinking, but I always return calmer. Knowing that this moment in time is more precious than what has happened or will happen.