Ecotherapy. Mindfulness. Nature Walking Meditations in NYC
The Germans call it “Waldeinsamkeit” translated to “the feeling of being alone in the woods.” The Japanese call it Shinrin-yoku (森林浴)—which literally translates to “forest bath.” But way back in ancient times, the Greeks knew that nature was a natural panacea. Hippocrates founded his Ascleperions on purpose in the naturally beautiful places near the sea or running streams, under the foot of the mountains. In his healing sanctuaries, he prescribed a regiment of walking through nature, hydrotherapy, heliotherapy, dream journaling, herbal medicine and other nature-based practices. Modern science has confirmed the positive effects on overall health when someone walks through nature. In fact, many modern doctors actually make walking through nature as part of their patient’s therapy regimen. Here’s the connection between health and nature from /www.ontarioparks.com/parksblog/waldeinsamkeit/:
After spending two days in nature, levels of cancer-fighting white blood cells in the body increase by 50%. Time spent in the outdoors can also reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes by 50%. Nature can prevent conditions like depression, obesity, ADHD, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.Time in nature has benefits for your mental health too.There is a strong connection between time spent in nature and reduced feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. Stress is relieved within minutes of exposure to nature as measured by muscle tension, blood pressure, and brain activity.Additionally, doing physical activities outdoors makes you happier than doing them inside. Contact with nature has restorative properties, increasing energy and improving feelings of vitality and focus
For many of us trapped indoors for so long as a result of the pandemic, our emotional, physical and psychological health has been negatively impacted. More than ever we need to go outdoors and walk. Walking through natural places helps relieve stress, increase white blood cell count, focus attention on the present, and improve cardiovascular strength. Join me for these nature walks where I combine journaling, nature writing, art making, story telling, and mindfulness through silence and observation to improve the health of the body, mind, and spirit. Even in the most urbanized centers, there are naturally wild places within a half hour’s drive that you can escape to–you just need a good guide.
Workshop Details
Cost: $10 per person
Dates: September through May in NYC
Times: Sunday afternoons, 4-7 pm
Places: various NYC parks and green areas
Duration: 1 hour (or a bit more)
Workshop includes:
-all art making materials, sketchbooks, reading material
-services of a licensed educator, expressive arts facilitator
(does not include admissions to some parks if applicable)
MINDFUL MEANDERINGS THROUGH THE CYCLADES
The countryside and seaside of Greece is one of the most beautiful in the world. In the Cyclades, the raw elemental beauty of nature combines with the energies of a Bronze-Age civilization to invigorate, rejuvenate, and celebrate. Nothing but sun, sea, wind, and primordial stone. Walking through the Cyclades will allow you to detox mentally and physically as its minimalist lines lead you through your own psychic declutterig to arrive to what is the most essential, the most necessary, the most authentic in you.
Many of the Cyclades have ancient hiking paths that lead through panoramic views of the Aegean sea, sylvan brooks, ancient ruins, the craggy crevices of sea grottos, sunken vessels, and mythic backdrops of the Odyssey where nymphs and nereids frolicked, where mortals encountered goddesses, and Arab pirates plundered coasts. As with all the walking meditations, we combine expressive arts on the way taking time to stop and smell the wild thyme, listen to the undulating roar of the sea, and connect with our inner selves through guided meditation, journaling, poetry, art making and drama enactment.
Guided nature walks and mindful meanderings are included with the full art and nature retreat in Ios, but are offered as stand-alone activities for organized groups.
Cycladic Hikes and Mindful Meanderings
Guided nature walks available on most Cyclades (Paros, Andros, Milos, Santorini, Sifnos, Naxos, Serifos) if a group of 10 people COST: 20 Euros per person Duration: 2 hours Dates: flexible in the summer months Times: early morning (dawn) or late afternoon (dusk) 8 am to 10 am/ 6 pm to 8 pm Includes: all materials, sketchbooks, handouts, paints, watercolors, pens/pencils -services of a professor, native of the Cyclades, artist/photographer and expressive arts facilitator/consultant
