Reading time: 4 minutes
To recharge your batteries, there's nothing like a breath of fresh air.
Spending time outdoors, getting some fresh air, and exercising are beneficial for both physical and mental health. Nothing new. But have you heard of ecotherapy, a practice based on interacting with nature? This form of therapy, which is aimed at anyone suffering from stress, anxiety, or going through difficult times, continues to grow.
Ecotherapy, or “green therapy,” is an approach focused on the benefits of interacting with one’s natural environment. 1 It is based on the principle that outdoor activities and contact with nature can have a regenerative effect on the body and mind.
Ecotherapy invites us to get some fresh air, appreciate the beauty of nature, experience the changing seasons and notice the small details that we too often ignore, swept away by the whirlwind of everyday life.
It happens that 2 Ecotherapists prescribe sessions to soothe ailments such as stress and depression or boost self-confidence.
What is ecotherapy?
Ecotherapy programs bring together groups of people in rural or urban areas around activities that allow them to come into more or less direct contact with nature. 3
They emphasize active participation, learning, and knowledge sharing. Ecotherapy also encourages a greater awareness of one's environment by paying attention to the landscape, sounds, and smells. To "live in the present moment."
Here are some ecotherapy activities:
- Environmental conservation: practical activities aimed at preserving the environment, such as planting trees or cleaning up a wood.
- Outdoor exercise: Physical activities performed in green spaces, such as yoga or tai chi, or group hikes in the countryside.
- Horticulture: gardening activities.
- Maintaining an allotment garden: planting, growing and harvesting your own food.
- Animal therapy: learning to care for an animal.
Benefits
The benefits of sunlight exposure have been demonstrated in cases of seasonal affective disorder. Ecotherapy works in a similar way.
Research has shown that ecotherapy can be beneficial for people with mild to moderate depressive disorders (in combination with other psychological, medical, or behavioral therapies, for example). Being outdoors and doing crafts has an effect on well-being and self-esteem.
Ecotherapy has also been shown to relieve stress through its relaxing effect. When you're depressed or stressed, it's normal to not feel like exercising. It can even be difficult to motivate yourself, get up, or go outside. However, getting outside, engaging in gentle activities, and breathing fresh air can help you feel more relaxed and calm.
It's also a great way to meet other people. Depression and related health issues can lead to isolation. Being part of a supportive group can be rewarding and empowering.
An easy practice to implement
Of course, even if it is beginning to be practiced successfully in some services, ecotherapy is easy to integrate as a general positive philosophy, and not as a simple reaction to stress or other problems.
If you're interested in trying it but don't have access to an ecotherapy program or a group of motivated people, don't be discouraged. There are plenty of ways you can incorporate the principles of ecotherapy into your life and create your own approach to clearing your mind, relaxing, and feeling better.
You don't need to live in the countryside. Access to a city park or green space is recommended, but simply being outside can be beneficial.
Here are some ways to incorporate ecotherapy into your everyday life.
- Start with your immediate natural environment. Maintain the plants in your garden or mow the lawn. If you don't have a garden, buy some pots or a planter and plant flowers or herbs.
- If you haven't ridden a bike in years, it's time to get back on it! Rent a bike, find a safe trail, and go for a ride. Cycling is good for your health. Pedaling releases endorphins and puts you in a good mood.
- Sign up for an environmental volunteer program. Find a local project and try to get involved. Whether it's mowing a lawn or clearing brush, you'll have the opportunity to help preserve beautiful natural spaces for future generations.
- Take a walk in the woods and observe the trees. Admire the color of the leaves, fruit, and bark, not to mention the woodland wildlife. Don't just walk. Try to feel like you're at the heart of a living, breathing network.
- Go to the beach. Explore the rocks, collect shells, listen to the seagulls, and observe the movement of the waves. Listening to the waves and gazing at the horizon will give you a sense of calm and humility. This will help you put things into perspective.
- Create natural works of art. Collect pine cones, shells, pieces of glass, pebbles, or leaves. Try to use your creativity.
Creating your own program and sticking to it will help you feel empowered and inspired. Ecotherapy can benefit everyone. This type of activity can bring the whole family together, from young to old, and offers both physical and emotional benefits.
Try it! Whatever the season, you'll soon discover that by organizing your outdoor activities a little, you can mitigate the effects of stress. This way, you'll better appreciate the benefits of nature and your place at its center.