Life got you feeling stressed out, anxious, fearful, depressed, stuck, or uninspired?

Ask your doctor if Nature is right for you…

WARNING: Prolonged exposure to nature can cause the following side effects: A low blood pressure, a happy heart rate, total relaxation, bouts of unintentional meditation, thoughts of love and peace, increased serotonin, and hemoglobin in your brain's prefrontal cortex (that's a great thing!)

American pharmaceutical marketing jokes aside, here's the truth and what we need to consider: We need nature. We are aware of the vital resources such as water, food, and shelter that Mother Nature so unselfishly shares with us, but do you know that time in nature is as equally as vital to life? Nature provides us with the medicines that we need to live in balance with all. But most importantly, it keeps our mental state in check without the side effects of pharmaceuticals.

Today, more than half of the world's population lives in urban areas, and the trend is only growing. The reasons that people move to the cities are very understandable. And this can be a good thing if the responsible parties implement sustainable planning and development with the growth.

The only problem I see with urban dwelling is that we become disconnected from our very essence, and our primal need to be in nature. We are inside of buildings and closed off to the great outdoors 93% of our time. Humans evolved with the natural world, and that is why a constant association is essential in the 'quality of life' equation.

It is said that meditation is a great way to find peace, self-love, and spiritual enlightenment. I do agree. However, meditation is not easy for all; it is a lifetime practice. I find that a walk in the park is the first step to a meditative mind. Without much effort, nature can enter us through our five common senses, and suddenly, we have a direct line of communication with GOD, Spirit, Higher Energy, Self, Budha (who or whatever that is for you). It happens automatically in most cases. All we have to do is slow down and listen.

Study after study proves that nature is medicine for our mind, body, and spirit. Coined therapies such as "Forest Bathing," "Float Therapy," "Grounding or Earthing," "Wellness Retreats in Nature," "Ayahuasca Ceremonies," are on the rise for a good reason. These therapies are excellent when you need to disconnect and reconnect.

Rx: Take 1 day (8 or more hours) uninterrupted, in nature, for instant relief. For continuous relief, take 30 minutes per day.

Here are some daily nature therapy activities that we suggest: bird watching, gardening, wildlife observation, nature photography, outdoor bike riding, trekking or hiking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, swimming in natural bodies of water, tree-hugging, smelling the flowers, or simply enjoying the view in a natural setting

Enjoy this short film that started about “Forest Bathing” (the Japanese study of shinrin-yoku) and then became something much more. Leaving the participants asking, “What is it about nature that changed us?”

As always, I would love to hear from you if you have a comment, a question, or a correction to any of the content in the post - PLEASE share in the comments section below. 

Aho Mitakuye Oyasin (For all my relations) 🙏

Many Blessings,

Sara Renshaw @ The Green Maya Project

P.S. During this time of quarantine, it is more vital than ever that we get our daily dose of nature. Keep your distance from others but step outside, feel the breeze (or freeze), listen for the birds, smell the air, go for a nature discovery walk if that is possible or sit under a tree with a good book and put your bare feet on the earth.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER AND SHARING IS CARING.  

Would you be so kind as to forward this blog to friends and share it on your social media sites?

EL BUZZ VERDE

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