Eco Therapy
Recently I spent several days in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota. The weather was glorious, my husband and I had meaningful uninterrupted time together, we read for hours, relaxed and soaked in our natural surroundings.
The BWCA is nearly 11,000 acres of untouched wilderness consisting of over a thousand lakes, a winding network of waterways and canoe routes, hiking trails and cliffs with glorious views. It is home to bear, fox, moose, bobcat, wolves, eagles and loons. The area is primarily made up of a dense variety of pine trees with areas of old growth forest. The campsites are private with the majority only accessible by canoe. Designated entry points into the BWCA are monitored by Forest Service and the number of permits are limited to just a few per day at each location. All this to say it was secluded. And quiet. And I loved it.
Have you ever had the opportunity to entirely remove yourself from all mechanical sounds, the visual clutter of man made stuff and sense of structured time? My goodness, it’s a remarkable thing. Granted this trip was less than a week and not a survive in the wilderness kind of event but it was an incredibly impactful, rejuvenating and healing experience.
View from the peak of Border Route Trail
What was so special? These were my observations and experiences:
TIME was gauged by natures clues and cycle of the sun. I ate, moved and slept when my body asked for it.
The SOUND of water slapping against the canoe and rushing over the rocks, the wind rustling the trees, crackling of the burning logs, call of birds, animals nearby at night and even the buzzing of mosquitoes… so many layers of sound.
SIGHT - visual variations of texture - rock, dirt, tree bark, water, along with variation of color of leaves, reflections on the lake throughout the day, and the sunsets.
Physical textures filled my sense of TOUCH - swimming in the cool water, sitting against rocks warmed in the sun, sleeping on the ground, bare feet on the dirt.
And SMELLS - smoke from the campfire, pine needles and the scent of something blooming.
It was a beautiful experience of total sensory immersion.
Time spent observing, drawing and just being was such a gift.
ECO THERAPY AND FOREST BATHING
The experience that provided me such a sense of calm, well being and connectedness is not a new phenomenon. Nature enthusiasts have known about this concept forever. What is new is the more mainstream realization that time in nature is healing. Forest Bathing, Shinrin-yoku is a Japanese practice of immersing oneself in nature to promote physical and mental well-being. It’s actually so effective it is recommended by their government as a preventative healthcare measure. Forest Bathing / Eco Therapy / Nature Immersion / Horticultural Therapy, whatever you want to call it, is gaining popularity and legitimacy as a healing practice. A few of the many documented benefits of time in nature include:
reduced blood pressure and heart rate
support of immune health
improvement of mood and positive self esteem
provides psychological relaxation and stress reduction
enhanced cognition and communication
increased mindfulness and sense of presence
Watching the sunset and a beaver and even being bitten by mosquitoes were all part of the collection of experiences.
Spending multiple days in the woods is not accessible, or even desired by many. But there are ways to benefit from nature close to home and in smaller doses. While uninterrupted quiet time is most beneficial to your well being, any amount of time outdoors or in proximity to the natural environment can have a calming effect.
Here are a few ways to experience the restorative aspect of nature:
visit a park for a picnic or read a book
walk, run or workout outside
bring your laptop outdoors and work sitting under a tree
try your hand at gardening
become a houseplant parent
go birdwatching
lie back and look at the clouds a sunrise, sunset or stars at night
I hope you take an opportunity to receive the gifts nature offers, either on your own camping adventure, simply sitting beside an indoor potted plant or anything in between.
Thank you for spending time here with me.
Jen