In our modern lives, there is often a degree of disconnect between us and the natural world.
Many people consider themselves as separate from nature, as if nature is this thing or activity that may or may not be part of one's life. It can be easy to fall into this kind of lifestyle, as so many of our lives are lived primarily inside, contained within boxes that separate us from plants, wildlife, fresh air, and sunshine. By living life in this way, we are depriving ourselves of beauty, novel experiences for our minds and bodies, functional exercise, and even vitamin D from the sun.
Without nature, we lose the balance in our lives, which can lead to very undesirable consequences.
In fact, the word "disease" can be related to loss of balance- "dis" meaning "apart" or "away", and "ease" meaning "undisturbed state", "comfort", or "well-being". Putting these words together describes a departure from the undisturbed state, a loss of balance and harmony.1
How can nature lead us back into balance? We have an innate human instinct to connect with the natural world. Many of us seek nature when we are not feeling well, or may realize we feel much better after disconnecting with screens and reconnecting with what is real in the world around us. Our bodies know how to heal themselves, but sometimes we may be preventing this process by disconnecting with the world around us.
Nature is our teacher, the divine force that can help guide us towards a path of healing.
We look to nature to learn how to solve problems naturally, whether we may be inspired by the supportive community of a forest, the love of a mother bird caring for her young, the dynamic energy of a rushing river, or the geological masterpieces of mountains, canyons, and glaciers.
Connecting with nature and time spent outdoors has measurable health benefits for the mind and body. In fact, many doctors are recommending "forest bathing", which is an ancient Japanese practice that involves immersing oneself in nature using all of the senses. Regular time spent in nature can improve emotional well-being, decrease blood pressure, increase energy levels, and lower stress hormones such as cortisol.2
The eclectic blend of sights, sounds, smells, and feelings can help calm our nervous system. The constantly varying terrain of walking outdoors stimulates our minds and bodies in new ways. This can help to improve balance, strength, reaction time, and will help us avoid loss of mobility and repetitive stress injuries that we get as a result of only interacting with flat, human-made environments. Spending time connecting with nature also helps us internalize the crucial connection between taking care of our planet and taking care of our own bodies, as we are not separate from nature.
Time with nature is our reminder that we evolved with nature, and chronic separation from the natural world is ultimately incongruent with the way our biological systems function.
At the Wellness Station, we encourage our clients to spend more time outdoors whenever possible. What are some easy ways to get more nature in one's life?
Make going on a walk a daily practice. Consider walking on a trail away from busy roads, where there may be many trees, flowers, and creeks.
Do exercise outside! Take a yoga mat or a blanket to a flat surface outdoors and move your body.
Meditate outside. Pay attention to all of your senses.
Keep the windows open for more fresh air.
Plan a trip or social event with outdoor activities planned, which may include hiking, sight-seeing, swimming, or any other enjoyable activity.
Get into gardening!
Written by Jacob Tyson, DPT - Physical Therapist, Yoga Instructor and The Wellness Station Team