Nature Therapy, Mindfulness and Meditation

Meditation is a means of transforming the mind. Through our meditation sessions we will teach our clients techniques that encourage and develop concentration, clarity, emotional positivity and a calm seeing of the true nature of things. By engaging with a particular meditation practice clients will learn the patterns and habits of their minds, and a way to cultivate new, more positive ways of being. With regular work and patience these nourishing, focused states of mind can deepen into profoundly peaceful and energised states of mind. Such experiences can have a transformative effect and can lead to a new understanding of life, reduce stress, anxiety and tackle depressive states.

Shinrin-yoku is a term that means “taking in the forest atmosphere” or “forest bathing.” It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Researchers primarily in Japan and South Korea have established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest.

We have always known this intuitively. But in the past several decades there have been many scientific studies that are demonstrating the mechanisms behind the healing effects of simply being in wild and natural areas. For example, many trees give off organic compounds that support our “NK” (natural killer) cells that are part of our immune systems.

The scientifically proven benefits of Shinrin-yoku include: boosted immune system functioning, with an increase in the count of the body’s NK cells, reduced blood pressure, reduced stress, improved mood, increased energy levels and improved sleep.

All of our clients will experience regular Shinrin-yoku sessions at various discreet botanical locations around the island. Often, we will combine mindfulness and meditation sessions with the Shinrin-Yuko sessions. There is something quite magical about doing a mediation session under the forest canopy and opening your eyes to a scene of 20 hummingbirds quietly going about their business.

Mindfulness is a core part of the Strong Hope programme as it can enable people to change the way they think and feel about their experiences, especially stressful experiences. A growing body of evidence has found that when people intentionally practice being mindful they feel less stressed, anxious and depressed, with the UK Government’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommending Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for the treatment of recurrent depression. Research also shows positive effects on several aspects of whole-person health, including the mind, the brain, the body and behaviour, as well as a person’s relationships with others.