There is something therapeutic about being surrounded by nature. Even when the weather is terrible, I’d rather be outdoors than stuck inside. From sun, to rain, to snow, I embrace it all. The only exception is ice.
My favourite nature setting has always been the ocean. OI simply love the ocean. Just thinking about the sounds, sights and aromas of the ocean relaxes me. How powerful is that? But, over the years, I’ve also started to love mountains and lakes.
Spending time outdoors: winter therapy
This has been a long, cold winter. Between Christmas and New Year, it was so cold that we were literally housebound. Even the dog refused to stay out beyond a couple of minutes. I was just itching to go out skiing, snowshoeing or walking. So far this winter, I’ve had the chance to go snowshoeing in our beautiful, Canadian outdoors twice. I couldn’t believe how gorgeous it was. The first day I headed out, snow was falling lightly. I stopped and stared in awe. Damn, the lake was beautiful. It was so peaceful to be on the lake as the snow fell. The second day was another stunner. There had been some snow overnight and the trees glistened in the sun.
Like I did on the first day, I stopped as I made my way through the trail. “How lucky am I to be here?” I asked myself. Those of you who know me, know that in the last few years, I’ve become a gym rat. An athlete. A jock, even. The gym is my therapy and one of my happy places. Yet, as much as I love going to the gym, my favourite workouts take place outdoors.The combination of endorphins and Mother Nature is hard to beat.
I can’t resist the fresh air, the ever-changing views and the feeling I get when I’m surrounded by nature. Whether riding along a bike path, hiking along a trail, going for a walk or run, the outdoors is the best gym.
Forest what?
I recently read about “forest bathing” and at first, I thought it was some kind of joke. I pictured large tubs, strategically located in forests. Weird, right? Maybe not so weird, after all. It turns out that in some countries, notably Japan and South Korea, forests are used as therapy. What is forest therapy? It’s a “research-based framework for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments.”
Inspiration
Clara Hughes, multiple Olympic medal winner (in both summer and winter games!) has one of my favourite social media accounts. Not only is she a multiple Olympic medal winner, she’s also the spokesperson for Bell’s Let’s Talk initiative to raise awareness about mental health. Living out in beautiful British Columbia, she has many opportunities to enjoy the backcountry. Her social media accounts are filled with pictures of her enjoying the great outdoors year round. She often uses the hashtag #movementismedicine when describing the many benefits of spending time in the great outdoors.
Spring
Now that spring is mere days away, spending time outdoors will be even better. Working near the waterfront means that I head out at lunch most days. Spending even a short time outside does wonders for my productivity and mood. I don’t even need to drink coffee in the afternoon. Thank you Mother Nature!
Sources:
http://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/
https://qz.com/804022/health-benefits-japanese-forest-bathing/
http://clara-hughes.com/movementismedicine/
