Photo by Blake Verdoorn on Unsplash

                                     🧘‍♀️Unplug, Breathe, Thrive 🧘‍♂️

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. Lao Tzu

Whatever makes you glad to be alive - do that,
whenever you can.

Join us for a transformative meditation experience with ‘A Walk in Nature’.

📅 Next Session:

• Online: Tuesday, July 15th 7 PM ET
• NO In-Person until the fall.
• 
  

This Week's Focus: A Walk in Nature

Key Points:

* Science confirms what we instinctively know: nature heals, calms, and connects us.

* A growing body of research shows that time in nature - what the Japanese call forest bathing - is one of the most powerful ways to boost your health and well-being.

* Time spent in nature strengthens the immune system, reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol, lowers blood pressure, and even improves heart rate variability - a marker of resilience and overall cardiovascular health. 

🆓 Sessions are FREE! (Donations welcome via VENMO @Eileen-Shaw-8) 

👉 RSVP Now to Join Zoom Meeting (eileenjshaw@mac.com)

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. Shakespeare

Join our community and rediscover your inner peace. All levels welcome!

Questions? Reach out to eileenjshaw@mac.com

Why Being in Nature Heals and The Science Behind It 

Movement is essential for health, but stepping outside—even for a short walk in the woods—offers profound benefits. Research reveals that spending time in nature, a practice known in Japan as forest bathing, is one of the most powerful yet underrated ways to enhance physical and mental well-being. 

Scientific studies consistently demonstrate that nature strengthens the immune system, lowers cortisol (the stress hormone), reduces blood pressure, and improves heart rate variability—an indicator of cardiovascular resilience. Additionally, green spaces elevate mood, sharpen cognitive function, and foster a sense of social connection. Even five minutes outdoors can alleviate anxiety, while longer exposure enhances concentration, reduces depressive symptoms, and boosts creativity. Nature doesn’t just make us feel better; it optimizes how our bodies and minds function. 

The healing power of nature is so potent that even passive exposure yields measurable effects. Hospital patients with views of trees recover faster, need less pain medication, and experience less fear and anxiety compared to those facing urban landscapes. This suggests that nature’s benefits aren’t merely pleasant—they’re vital for healing. 

Biologist E.O. Wilson’s ‘biophilia hypothesis’ explains this phenomenon, proposing that humans have an innate connection to living systems. Our brains and bodies evolved in natural environments, and we still rely on this bond for optimal health. 

In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, disconnection from nature contributes to rising stress, anxiety, and burnout. Conversely, reconnecting with the natural world offers clarity, solace, and renewal.

As environmental crises evoke climate grief, fostering a relationship with nature becomes even more crucial. By prioritizing time outdoors, we harness a timeless remedy for modern ailments—one rooted in both science and our evolutionary past. Nature isn’t just a retreat; it’s a necessity for holistic well-being.