Ways to celebrate the Summer Solstice

Find your wild

I’ve noticed there seems to be 2 camps. People who just want to ‘get out there’ and do as much as possible while they can. And others who feel more cautious to do so. Neither are wrong or right, but this blog might just help you understand why some may feel reticent. ‘Walking, mindfulness being in nature are all good rehabilitation strategies for coming out of lockdown’, explained Ashley Styring – a trauma expert. “We may or may not know it, but our systems have been through a massive traumatic experience over this past year. For some, they may feel on high alert still – even if the vaccination programme is well underway”. Apparently because we’ve been dealing with an unseen threat, it’s affected our body’s normal way of coping. It’s called chaotic disorganization, where our nervous system moves in all directions as it tries to work out the best plan of action. It can leave you feeling scrambled, overwhelmed and not safe. Have you noticed feeling more short-tempered, out-of-sorts and stressed more than normal? Reticent to do things? It could well be your nervous system is still in fight or flight mode. So, what can you do to rehabilitate yourself? Well, there are many things that will help. But according to Ashley, it’s about doing things slowly and with awareness – or mindfully. “Fresh air, gentle movement and being in nature is extremely good for your nervous system as it has a grounding, healing affect”. And the more senses you use - not only sight and sound but also smell, feel and taste - the greater the benefits [1]. If you can spend a total of two hours a week connecting with nature, this increases health and wellbeing too [2]. So go slowly - at your own pace. Spend time gently out in nature. Walk amongst beauty while engaging all your senses. It will all soothe your nervous system and bring you back to your normal self. And when you are ready, come and join us on one of our sensory nature experiences . Not sure which one? Get in touch and I’ll talk you through the options – including bespoke sessions. This will also contribute towards your wellbeing. But for now, head outside and heal at your own pace. Ashley Styring offers 1-2-1 sessions on dealing with trauma (via Zoom). Please contact me for her details. References [1] www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52479763 [2}www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3

We set off just before sunset, travelling slowly along the edge of this ancient land, gently waking up our senses. Taking ourselves on an adventure that would calm the mind right down and make us feel more present. Doing this meant we could feel, hear and see so much more. Meanwhile, our guide Fabian, brought our attention to visible land marks, stars, and spoke to us about the universe. It was utterly enthralling.

Sitting, huddled around a fire, cosy in blankets, we looked in awe at the star-studded sky above us. Feeling alive and zinging from the twilight-cum-night walk we'd just done and the wildlife we'd heard and seen.

Want to know how potent being in nature, combined with mindfulness and a yoga practise can be? It's truly transformative. Read on to find out more.

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