Reconnect with Yourself

Jen Grange is a nature-based wellbeing practitioner and coach specialising in forest bathing and mindfulness.

She offers well-being retreats across Cumbria as well as traditional therapies such as Reiki and EFT.

An experienced coach, she uses a combination of natural therapies, EFT, and Kinetic Shift to support her clients to make positive changes in their lives.

Jen Grange Lakeland Well-being Tel: 07810 890528 Email: jen@lakelandwellbeing.co.uk www.lakelandwellbeing.co.uk

As spring begins and new life awakens it’s our human nature to connect with the natural world. I find it a time of positivity and high energy with plants blooming and new life emerging. Research tells us that spending at least 2 hours a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing, although I would recommend much more! I have spent many years working in the environmental and conservation sectors to heal the land, and now I work with the land to heal people. The natural world has been such an important part of my story and I want to help everyone discover the healing power of nature. Ever since I was a child I have always been drawn to nature in times of distress. As a teenager I had a favourite tree I would sit with in times of upset, it felt like company and that it understood. As I grew older, I began to feel a real need to be outside and connect with nature in various ways, which led me to pursue a career in caring for the environment. It’s not surprising that I felt this way as it turns out that being in nature is a natural antidepressant, boosting our mood and self-esteem, increasing levels of serotonin and dopamine our ‘happy hormones’. Being outside, especially in the sunshine, also increases our vitamin D levels which boosts our immune system, strengthens our bones & muscles, and enhances our mood. But whilst being in nature is important for our health and wellbeing, it is our connection with nature that brings the greatest benefits to our mental health, which I was to discover.

After having my second child I found myself very stressed, feeling like there was no escape from the pattern of bouncing between baby and child’s needs. I felt the pressure rising within me and I had no idea how I would cope when I went back to work. Two things helped me to avoid a breakdown – one was mindfulness and the other was my connection with nature, and I discovered that combining the two doubled the effect. I already spent a lot of time outside with my children, but I began to seek even more time outdoors, in all weathers. In my few moments of solitude, I would be drawn to the woods or the water, engaging all my senses with my surroundings and spending time with the trees. It is very easy to be mindful in nature as there is so much stimulation for the senses. Gradually I began to feel calmer, more grounded and much, much happier. After several years of combining nature connection and mindfulness I read about forest bathing and realised this is what I was already doing and that this was my calling – to reconnect people with nature to heal themselves and to heal the Earth. Forest bathing or Shinrin-Yoku is a natural wellbeing therapy originating from Japan. It means to ‘bathe or bask in the forest atmosphere’; taking in the forest through all of our senses. It is the perfect way to relax, unwind and connect with the natural environment, allowing time to switch off from the pressures of life and simply ‘be’ surrounded by the healing energy of the forest. Walking mindfully and engaging in sensory experiences allows us to connect with nature, connect with our intuition and find inspiration in the natural world.

There is robust science and evidence about the benefits of forest bathing and these include: • Reducing stress • Improving mood • Boosting the immune system • Reducing blood pressure and pulse rate • Accelerating recovery from surgery or illness • Increasing energy levels • Improving sleep

Forest bathing and mindfulness in nature can be enjoyed at any time of year and are wonderful ways of tuning in to the seasons and cycles of nature.