Nature Therapy For Wellbeing

Being surrounded by unspoiled nature is an ideal way to take care of ourselves, both mentally and physically. As humans, we are naturally inclined to feel connected to the environment, despite the many reasons that may force us to live apart from it. Nature has the power to restore balance to our body, mind, and soul, but it often requires guidance from experts. Simple activities like embracing trees and walking barefoot on the ground can have a calming effect. On the other hand, research has shown that challenging activities like climbing mountains with limited oxygen and food can boost our critical thinking skills and endurance ability. Nature therapy can take many forms, limited only by our imagination. It can range from simply spending a few moments in nature to the extreme of meditating in the Himalayan mountains without clothing, food or water for months. Our goal is to help everyone achieve overall fitness objectives in a timely and effortless manner with our expert-guided trips to the Himalayas. 

Each day of the trip will consist of two different sessions of Yoga Therapy, which will be supervised and monitored by trained experts. In the morning, we will begin with 30 minutes of yoga and muscle-strengthening therapeutic exercises under the direct supervision of an expert. This will prepare you for the challenges of the day, whether emotional or physical, and help you face them with gratitude and strength. The wellness achieved with the help of expert-led nature activities in the Himalayas can last forever if the learnt skills are applied in everyday life after the completion of trips.

Throughout the day, you will engage in designated activities such as hiking and tours, with a focus on enjoying what makes you happy rather than just following a set itinerary. The morning yoga therapy will give you the energy you need to enjoy your time with Mother Nature without feeling tired or distracted. At the end of the day, we will reserve another 30 minutes for muscle relaxation and yoga sessions with an expert, helping you unwind and prepare for the next day’s adventure.

Our specially guided muscle relaxation and repairing asanas are designed to provide 100% relief from muscle strains in targeted body parts. Our evening yoga asanas will prepare you for better digestion, sound sleep, and recharge you for the next day’s adventure, making your day of Himalayan Adventure Therapy or Nature Therapy in Himalayas a complete success. Our activities have proven to be more efficient and effective in the wild nature rather than in enclosed or artificial setups. You can also benefit from personal consultations with our experts who can help you develop yourself stronger and profound from inside out. Our experts are under the direct supervision and periodic training of Gurudev Pawan Nepal, a Vedic Yoga Therapy graduate who used to be a teacher of Art of Living under Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shanker and is currently doing further study of Vedanta in India.

Every entity on the known unknown spatial and universal existence are the forms of Nature itself so we are. Nature has that proven ability to heal and maintain co-existence with  anything in the cosmos around. Though modern science had just begun to point out Nature as ultimate source of all forms of energy among which most of them are proved to be health beneficial for human beings. Nature has begun to be used as treatment models in the well manifested society these days. On a paper released by Western Michigan University, USA on the topic “Use of Nature as Treatment Model” it is made clear with its conclusion that Nature is an effective choice of treatment modality in occupational therapy due to its positive impact on client factors, skills, and occupational engagement while addressing a variety of performance patterns and contexts. The use of nature as a treatment modality affects motor functioning, sensory functioning, mental functioning, and social interaction skill development positively. Additionally, engagement in therapeutic activities in the outdoor setting allows for functional and client centered intervention in a dynamic, natural environment. Research suggests that nature may also have physical, mental, and emotional benefits which in turn influence intervention outcomes. There are a variety of therapeutic activities that may occur in nature including hiking, bird watching, gardening, and creative play. These treatment activities and the performances addressed may also be generalized and adapted to different outdoor activities and diagnoses. As such, nature can be effectively used as a tool in occupational therapy. Despite the recognition that nature is beneficial for the health and wellbeing for all types of individuals, the understanding of the impact that nature may have on therapeutic intervention in occupational therapy is based on weak anecdotal evidence. This highlights the need for further research to examine the impact that nature as a treatment modality has on the outcome of occupational therapy treatment. Click Here for official citation of the published journal. This also presses about the benefits like increased attention and decreased attentional fatigue with natural restoration of attention. With that in light, the article claims interaction with the outdoor environment is a novel experience that requires a variety of processing skills. Interaction with nature encourages the use of higher-order problem-solving skills including insight, problem-solving, and creative reasoning power. 

As another reputed modern health issue data collector and treatment provider Charlie Health, Inc highlights about the problems below which can be solved with the help of natural world and the level of involvement we do in it. 

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Dissociative disorders
• Trauma-related symptoms and conditions, such as PTSD

Click Here for official citation of the published journal on Nature therapy for overall health, what can be treated, variations, how it works 

12 variations of Nature as therapy for Overall Well Being (Physical, Mental and Emotional)

The therapeutic benefits of nature have been widely recognized for promoting overall well-being, including physical, mental, and emotional health. We’ve  highlighted twelve distinct variations of nature therapy that can help individuals improve their quality of life. 

1. Wilderness as therapy: Wilderness therapy involves exposing oneself to limited challenges in wilderness settings, such as camping, hiking, or building shelters. This form of therapy can enhance an individual’s courage and risk-taking abilities, which can translate to success in life. It can also be an effective group activity.
2. Forest Bathing: Forest bathing, which entails immersing oneself in a dense forest environment for at least 72 hours while avoiding artificial signals, has been found to enhance the natural ability to perceive things. A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that forest bathing, when combined with activities such as walking, yoga, or mindful breathing, can effectively reduce mental health symptoms, particularly anxiety, and decrease stress levels by influencing cortisol levels.
3. Active Adventure Therapy: Active adventure therapy, which involves expert-guided activities such as trekking, mountain climbing, rafting, and rock climbing in pristine natural locations like the Himalayas, can help restore, heal, and strengthen the body.
4. Dark light: Dark light therapy involves stargazing in natural settings with minimal light pollution, which can enhance imagination and critical thinking abilities. Examples include stargazing from high-altitude locations like Everest Base Camp or Kala Patthar.
5. Nature and Arts: Nature and art therapy can stimulate creativity by drawing inspiration from nature. This can include creating art inspired by natural elements, using natural materials like clay or wood, or creating in a natural setting.
6. Animal-assisted interventions: The activities such as spending time with animals in their natural habitat or with pets indoors or outdoors, can help individuals think differently from their usual home setups.
7. Chosen Landscape:  Chosen landscape therapy entails selecting a natural environment that aligns with an individual’s personal interests and physical abilities. For example, a physically fit person interested in increasing endurance and stamina would benefit more from a challenging trekking trip in the Himalayas rather than a jog in a nearby park. A therapeutic landscape should feel like a “healing place” and play an active role in the intervention itself.
8. Mindfulness: Yoga in nature therapy involves guided meditation activities in pristine natural settings like the Himalayas to help individuals feel a deeper connection to nature, such as listening to the sound of blowing wind, controlled breathing techniques, and intentional physiological regulation exercises.
9. Green Workouts: Green workouts in green spaces isolated from city and crowded environments, such as running, walking, cycling, horseback riding, or trekking in the Himalayas, can provide a physical and mental boost.
10. Nature Smell:  Nature smell therapy integrates natural scents, typically plant scents, into therapeutic interventions, which can aid in stress reduction and mental recovery. Essential oils have been shown to have a direct beneficial effect on the mood and stress response of hospital workers.
11. Hear the Nature: Hearing the sounds of nature, such as flowing streams, rivers, blowing wind, and the sounds of birds and animals, can enhance concentration levels and regulate emotions. A study by Cerwén et al. compared patient responses to sounds of nature, technology, and human. Nature sounds were unanimously considered a positive element, while technology sounds were a negative element. Human sounds had mixed results depending on the patient’s mood and treatment phase.
12. Gardening and Horticulture:  Gardening and horticulture therapy, which involves grounding the body with mud to accumulate positive electrons and settle the random movement of electrons within, can provide a therapeutic effect. This can include gardening, farming, or spending time with indoor plants.

Hence we encourage every travelers to look for a value like therapy to heal, strengthen and nurture one’s physical, mental and emotional health while traveling. Himalayan Adventure Therapy offers innovative Himalayan trips with all those values led by experts and ultimately for nature and the society.