What do you feel when you look at this picture?
What do you think about, when you look at this picture?
Have you ever felt the coolness of a desert stream on your feet
Have you ever tried dipping your hands in planting soil?
If you ask most people, I assume that the calm, quiet place that brings them relaxation is in nature. Sunrises and sunsets, the sight of the sea, the desert, the forests, the waterfalls, a field of flowers, or just sitting on the grass relaxes us. And it's not just a feeling, the healing ability of nature is scientifically proven. In Japan, it is called a forest shower "shinrin-yoko" It is a conscious walk in the forest, slowing down, taking deep breath and a sensory connection to the forest.
We all experienced the effect of nature on us during the Corona closures. As soon as we were trapped in houses, collectively all over the world, we felt the need to go outside to nature, to the yard, to the garden. We couldn't bear staying inside and there were many who adopted a dog so that they would have an excuse to go for a walk.
But if you think about it, historically, until about 300 years ago, before the industrial revolution, most people, all over the world lived in villages, close to nature and dependent on nature. All human beings lived with nature and nature was a part of them.
I discovered in my work, if I put a bowl with soil or plants in front of any person, regardless of their age, what they are going through and what they are dealing with, everyone would want to touch the soil. Sometimes it will take a few minutes, or you need mediation using gloves, but the majority, as soon as they see soil would want to touch it and after a few minutes even the gloves come off.
It has been proven in a long series of studies that staying in the forest reduces stress hormones, contact with the earth releases serotonin, grounding can relieve depression, strengthen the immune system and more.
So how do we let nature heal us? how to reduce stress?
Go out to nature! It can be at the beach, the local stream, the forest or even the neighborhood park or at your home garden.
Just go outside, push your hands into a container with soil, plant pots, ground yourself, look at the beauty! Take off your shoes, let your body be in contact with nature, walk barefoot on the ground or grass, breathe deeply, ground yourself and let nature heal you.
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