photo by Shaina Kasanoff
In the last few months here in Portland, I've noticed the new buzz topic is on the benefits of being in nature. One of the local radio stations announced last week that the ideal time to be outside connecting with nature is 20 minutes a day.
Naturally, I feel inclined to spread the word because being outside is what I do best. I've spent the majority of my life outside amongst trees and/or being in water since this is something we folks from Texas do a lot of to handle the heat and stay cool.
When people ask why I left Texas to move to Portland, my response is always the same, 'For the trees'.
What I didn't know then, that I am sure of now is that I want to help people feel better through rediscovering life outside of themselves and the places where we spend the most time – our cars, our office, and our home.
Root&Connect recently branched out to become its own business and one of the things I feel most excited about offering is eco-therapy, otherwise known as nature therapy or green therapy. This form of therapy is a practice of the emerging field of ecopsychology which believes that people are a part of the web of life and our psyches are not isolated or separate from our environment.
Essentially, we need nature to help keep us in balance. The reason I want to incorporate this practice into my clinical work is because I believe that we were created to be in connection with earth and its systems. This is what is natural because we as humans are part of nature.
The buzz around town is that being in nature for 20 minutes a day contributes to our overall well-being:
Emotional- helps us to feel better emotionally by decreasing feelings of anger, fear, and stress; and increasing our pleasant feelings or higher emotions.
Physical- helps by reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. A new report reveals that exposure to green space reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, and preterm birth.
Mental- has been proven effective in reducing anxiety and depression because different parts of our brain activate in nature.
The Root&Connect approach is to interweave talk therapy with nature therapy through earthing and practicing mindfulness in nature. I realize that this form of therapy is somewhat outside of the box, but again that is precisely the idea!
We need to get out of our boxes to experience the outside world and feel our very best whenever it is possible.
All it takes is the first step from being indoors to outdoors. Then researching to discover what parks or green spaces are within a 1 mile radius of your home or office. Form a new habit of visiting these spaces often to rest in nature and receive its good vibes. Your whole self will thank you for it and you will notice that you do indeed feel better.
To learn more about the practices offered at Root&Connect, visit these links:
http://www.rootandconnect.com/earthing
http://www.rootandconnect.com/mindfulness-in-nature