Science & Nature
Take a moment to think of the way a breeze feels against our skin, the crunch of the autumn leaves beneath our feet, the feeling of lying in a meadow as the sun beams down on you. We instinctively know how much better we feel when we get outdoors, but what’s the science behind it all?
Science & Nature is meant to distill down some of the incredible research that scientists have done in an easy to share format. I’ll be highlighting some of the amazing organizations that support this kind of work in various parts of the world and encouraging you to reconnect with nature!
Cannot wait for you to follow me into the woods on Instagram and Facebook.
@scienceandnatureofficial
When big data meets nature
The science is indisputable: nature exposure provides profound mental and physical health improvements. Through innovative technology, machine learning, and big-data, NatureQuant provides tools to fully leverage nature's impact.
Time to feel good
Current research validates the power of nature to restore and improve mental and physical health, as well as to spur creativity and innovation.
This seminar is designed for anyone who wants to leverage nature in their own life or to create a healthier environment for their workspace.
Intro to Therapeutic Horticulture Course
…provides an overview of the principles and practices of horticultural therapy, including the physical, social and psychological benefits of working with plants.
Why the passion for nature?
Our grandparents valued time spent connecting to the land.
Growing up as the youngest of 13 grandkids, the lake was the heart and soul of our family gatherings. There was hardly a weekend that went by where you would head to the cottage and find it empty. Although It did help that our grandmother lived there for half of the year. We would roam through the woods, work on projects like building the treehouse, see who could swim to the cliffs the fastest and hosted our infamous noodle wars on the raft. If I may say so myself, I think we all know who was the champion there…
To me, there was something magical about being there - there was always something to do. We’d spend hours in the lake even when it was stormy, and head out on the boat when we needed a change of pace. We’d bring our homework to a place where there was…wait for it…no wifi - just family, friends, food and nature.
As we grew up and our schedules inevitably got busier, it was harder and harder to find time to head to the lake. I found myself feeling disconnected from the environment, and I’d have to seek out pockets of nature nearby to revitalize myself for the tasks ahead. That disconnect left me feeling more fatigued, mentally and creatively stifled, and experiencing difficulties focusing.
This got me thinking, maybe there’s something there…something that explains the squirrel that had taken up residence in the part of my brain called attention span.
I started to look at a few studies about how engaging with green space could benefit the mind and body.
Fewer negative emotions, reduced blood pressure, increased productivity, feeling more energized and reporting improved mental clarity? Sign me up! When can I start?
It was then and there that I knew the theme for my upcoming undergraduate honours thesis. I ended up partnering with researchers including Dr. John Zelenski from Carleton University and the esteemed Dr. Marc Berman of the University of Chicago who had written extensively on the topic.
This voracious appetite for all things nature continued to snowball through my professional program and into my career. This eventually became integrated into my consulting business and clinical practice as my network wanted to learn about the benefits and how they could integrate greenery into their own enterprise and health journey.
Since taking that leap of faith, I have connected with individuals across the globe who share a passion for nature. I’m a Director of the International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance and the Canadian Director of NatureQuant. I have become a regular contributor to ecocentric magazines and blogs including Nature’s Gold out of the U.K. and OTWO Magazine out of Gibraltar, Spain. I’ve spoken on podcasts like The Well Conversation, appeared with the Journal of Biophilic Design and spoken with Inclusive Wellness Consultant Dr. Arlie Millyard on how to make nature accessible and inclusive of all people.
I continue to be amazed at the incredible ingenuity of those seeking a more sustainable lifestyle and have implemented these ideas in my own day-to-day living.
If you’re looking to revamp your business or learn about what nature can do for you, click below and let’s get started.
