Nature therapy, or ecotherapy, is a recently established form of mental health care which encourages those who suffer from depression, anxiety, and other conditions to spend time outdoors. A 2007 study found that, out of 108 people, a whopping 71% felt less depressed after taking a walk in the country. Another study, published in 2010 in Japan, found that people who spent more time outside in the forest, exposed specifically to the sights and sounds of nature, had lower levels of cortisol, lower pulse rates, and lower blood pressure.
The immensely positive effects of getting back to nature are featured — and beautifully captured — in the January issue of National Geographic magazine. Its story, "This Is Your Brain on Nature," depicts the diverse and unique ways people find solace in nature amid their fast-paced, modern lifestyles. Children scramble through snowy forests; lone hikers take a break to enjoy the view, and some carve out tiny oases of greenery above bustling cities. However the people in these photos find themselves in nature, the stress-relieving effects are clear. Let the photos be an important reminder for the rest of us to give ecotherapy a try.
Click through for a selection of the story's images and writer Florence Williams's findings. Read the full story here.
"In Singapore, which aims to be a 'city in a garden,' greenery cascading off a luxury hotel soothes a guest in a balcony pool — and people on the street below. 'A concrete jungle destroys the human spirit,' former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew once said."
Photo: Lucas Foglia/National Geographic.
"Within sight of downtown Seoul, capital of South Korea and a hub of stressful modern life, salesman Sungvin Hong rests after a hike in Bukhansan National Park. The park attracts some five million visitors a year."
Photo: Lucas Foglia/National Geographic.
"In a 'forest kindergarten' in Langnau am Albis, a suburb of Zurich, Switzerland, children spend most of the school day in the woods, regardless of the weather. They learn whittling, fire starting, and denbuilding; they’re able to explore. Supporters say such schools foster self-confidence and an independent spirit."
Photo: Lucas Foglia/National Geographic.
"Maddie Roark swims among lily pads in her family’s pond in western North Carolina. Her father runs an outdoor education center. In a recent study, some 70% of U.S. mothers reported that they played outside every day as children; only 31% of their children do."
Photo: Lucas Foglia/National Geographic.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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