January 12, 2025

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Nature Therapy: The Healing Power of Spending Time Outdoors

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Overview:

  • Nature Therapy boosts psychological, emotional, and physical wellness.
  • It lowers stress, enhances moods, and boosts cognitive capabilities.
  • Research indicates that forest bathing, gardening, hiking, and mindful walking therapies heal and relax.
  • Starting small by unplugging yourselves from devices embraces the therapeutic value of nature.

In this fast paced world, most of us have been exposed to the dominance of technology and other gadgets. This completely disassociates us from nature. We are continuously staring at screens, and we forget that the most healing force can be found in nature. Nature therapy is a rapid treatment for enhancement in mental, emotional, and physical health of the individual. It is also known as eco therapy.

What Is Nature Therapy?

Nature therapy, also known as ecotherapy is a concept of healing humans, especially psychically, by using nature. We have substituted those leisure activities with even more hours spent on social media and video games. People these days don’t spend  any time enjoying natural surroundings and benefiting from its presence. Instead, they are spending more and more hours staring at screens and surfing the net. Let alone that, we are so busy with our jobs that we don’t even spend time with ourselves. The consequences of this lifestyle have already started showing their impact. We are now a stressed-out society with a plethora of mental health maladies.

a-woman-feeling-calm-alongside-a-lake
Image Credits: Pexels

The Science Behind Nature Therapy 

Results of a study are in line with the fact that exposure to nature has deep implications for mental health. Results of several studies indicate that relaxation in the outdoors:

Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Cortisol, which is a stress hormone, can be reduced within the human body by spending time in greenery. This greatly improves mental health, especially in the case of youngsters. The chirping of birds, rustling of leaves, or the trickling of water has a soothing effect on the brain.

Improves Emotional Health and Mood

Illumination with daylight increases serotonergic activity, that is to say, the level of neurotransmitter responsible for inducing well-being and happiness.

Cognitive Ability

A walk in the park improves attention, creativity, and memory. It is useful for people with attention deficit disorders, like ADHD etc. 

Immunity Boosts

Phytoncides are organic compounds of trees that will enhance the activity of natural killer cells in the body. The former enhances the body’s immunity, hence alleviating the risk of chronic disorders.

a-woman-performing- yoga-near-a-lake
Image Credits: Pexels

Nature Activities for Therapy

Nature therapy can be performed in many ways. It also can be personalized according to the requirement and liking of the person. A few methods include:

Forest Bathing or Shinrin-yoku

Shinrin Yoku refers to doing an aware walk in the woods to breathe in the fresh air. 

Gardening

It helps a person be closer to land and therefore gives therapeutic effects as well as a feeling of gratification. 

Hiking and Walking

These exercises keep one fit at the same time taking him/ her through breathtaking beauty. Swimming in lakes, rivers, or oceans revitalizes both body and mind.

How to Get Started 

Nature therapy is available to accommodate all ages and levels of fitness. It is especially useful if a person is suffering from anxiety, depression, chronic stress, grief, or trauma recovery. People suffering from various physical ailments due to their sedentary lifestyle can also benefit from nature therapy. You are not necessarily required to go into the woods to know or to commence nature therapy. Here is how to get going:

a-woman-surrounded by- trees-looking-happy
Image Credits: Pexels

Start Small

You can start with trying to go on a 10-minute walk or simply sit down in your balcony or a nearby park. The fact that you can start small ensures that one has the scope of building consistency. 

Unplug

Leave the devices behind in order to truly participate with the physical world around you. It disconnects one from the screen to the view, sound, and feelings of nature for a cooler and fresher environment.

Be Mindful

Be very attentive to the minute details like chirping of birds, the fragrance of flowers, and the gentle breeze. Mindfulness will connect you with the outdoors even more and keep you in the present moment.

Join a Group

The experience would be more pleasing and motivating if a person goes with their friends or family.

Conclusion:

With our opening our arms to Nature’s healing power, our sense of obligation to preserve it should also strengthen. It promises that through sustainable living, even the future generation can reap benefits from nature. Nature therapy reminds us that healing can not always occur through pills and prescriptions. Sometimes it is in the serenity of nature, the rhythm of waves or the warmth of the sun shining. By spending time in nature, we get the best of both worlds. We make time for our well being and also deepen our connection to the planet Earth. So, step outside, take a breath, and let nature work its magic.

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