Nature therapy, sometimes called forest bathing, is an inventive branch of traditional psychotherapy that studies have found to provide some distinctive and beneficial results for people. This type of alternative therapy and holistic health treatment can be especially helpful in dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, and problems with relationships. Many of us already instinctively know we feel better when we spend time in nature, at the beach, by a river, or in a forest amongst the trees, but there are now several supported scientific studies that back up this feeling.
Ground Yourself and Reconnect With The Earth
Grounding yourself and reconnecting with the earth has the potential to unlock many opportunities for a person to soothe and heal, and to have their natural senses realigned.
A session in nature therapy is about spending time – typically one hour – in the form of a treatment session outside in the natural environment. This type of therapy was founded on established ecopsychology concepts, which examine how humans feel linked to the planet. We feel smaller and more a part of the bigger, infinite world when we spend time in nature.
Natural settings, according to studies, make people feel more at ease, calmed, and rejuvenated.
Go Walking in Nature - It's Good for You
Moving about in nature is beneficial to your health. The most productive form of nature therapy is to go walking or on a hike.
As we move our bodies, we activate different regions of our brains. This helps us to make new connections and come up with unique solutions. Nature walks have been shown to boost mood and memory, as well as dramatically lower the body's stress and tension responses.
Water is a Natural Healer
Those of us who are fortunate to live close to rivers, lakes, or the ocean have access to some added benefits.
Walking along the beach or beside a river or lake can enhance nature therapy by offering additional enhancements to your imagination and serenity. Nature's hues, particularly blues, have been shown to activate regions of the brain responsible for focus and memory, enabling increased inventiveness and perception of links and associations between all things.
Tips for Creating the Best Therapeutic Nature Experience
It is so easy and incredibly simple for anyone to create their own therapeutic nature experience.
Find somewhere outside you would like to go walking and exploring.
Do a scan of yourself before you get going. How are you feeling right now? Rate yourself on a scale of one to ten, with one being lousy and ten being extraordinary.
Set an intention or goal for this journey. Take a minute or two to address any issues or visualise an objective for your walk.
When you walk, do so with meaning and purpose. Avoid simply plodding along and waiting until it is time to head back inside. Think about the obstacles you have faced and overcome. Give acknowledgement to what has worked in the past, but also accept what has not.
At the halfway stage of your walk, before you turn around and head back, ask yourself how approaching things in different ways and from different angles could benefit your circumstance.
Upon your return, recognise your efforts on your nature walk today. Give yourself the credit for gifting yourself this opportunity to take this special time for yourself, and for persevering through the hoke and with your reflections.
Do a scan of yourself again, just like what you did at the start. How are you feeling right now? Has anything changed for you? Rate yourself on a scale of one to ten, with one being lousy and ten being extraordinary.
Set a mental intention from this moment on to incorporate your new awareness and anything else that was enriching about yourself that you collected along your walk.
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The information contained above is provided for entertainment purposes only. The contents of this article are not intended to amount to advice on your personal situation and you should not rely on any of the contents of this article. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this article. The Writer and Shoshin Therapies disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this article.
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