re.ju.vie.me ~ Sherry, meet The Forest
It’s official. I’m a tree hugger! This is so unexpected since I’ve never been the nature-loving type. My idea of a good time outdoors usually involved a beach and a cocktail, until Robin Coleman and her organization’s Nurtured by Nature hikes at Eagle Creek Park. Robin is the founder of Sekhem Institute for Holistic Healing, a non-profit organization centered around improving Mental Wellness in the African American community.
My initial reason for attending the first nature walk with Robin was truly to support her work, and I was certain I’d be eager for us to finish quickly. Surprise surprise, I did not want it to be over when we’d finished. The experience was rejuvenating. There was the physical element of movements, which was well paced, with the option to go with a slower or faster group. That was fantastic, but I also felt a peacefulness that I don’t get from my typical “work outs". This was not meant to be about working my body, and even though it did that the focus was moreso on calming my spirit and using nature to relax me from within. That is exactly what happened.
Nurse Robin also talked about the benefits of nature walks and forest bathing, which I’d never heard of. Forest Bathing is immersing oneself in a forest atmosphere and really taking in the sounds, smells, and sights.
Here is an article by Cleveland Clinic that explains Forest Bathing and its benefits in more detail.
This was particularly interesting from the article:
“The forest has higher oxygen levels compared to urban or indoor environments,” she continues. “As you breathe in the fresh air within a forest, you’re inhaling oxygen-rich air, which can support proper oxygenation of your blood and subsequently benefit your brain function.”
Give the forest a try!
Hiking at Eagle Creek Park with Sekhem Institute’s Nurtured by Nature program.