In this month’s Wellness Expert feature, our Director of Spa & Wellness, Nichola Roche shares her insights into the profound benefits of connecting with nature and discusses its numerous associated health benefits. With a background encompassing naturopathy, Ayurveda, spa, reflexology, aromatherapy, and other holistic therapies, Nichola brings her extensive expertise into delivering the conceptualization, pre-opening, on-site training, and ongoing operations of GOCO’s branded spa and wellness projects and properties alongside broader wellness concepts. Having worked for some of the world’s most luxurious brands including AMAN, SET Hotels, The London Medical Spa, and ESPA Life for The Corinthia in London, and a judge for globally recognized industry awards, Nichola has built a global portfolio and is regarded for her industry knowledge and international experience.
Nichola Roche
Director – Spa & Wellness, GOCO Hospitality
It is well documented that those of us who have a regular connection to nature are generally more content and happier, however, this understanding is still yet to come to the forefront of our industry and subsequently, our personal lifestyle and wellness routines. With the continuous emphasis on our diets, nutritional supplementation, and physical exercise gaining the most traction, for those of us living in urban environments, exercise is generally done inside, gyms and even at-home workout spaces.
It’s often the latest trends or Biohacking practices that are given credence within the wellness industry and social media, such as contrast bathing and fasting, meanwhile, we can overlook the most easily available and simplistic habits, that with a little forethought and planning can be integrated into our daily life, which is the regular connection with nature and green spaces.
Currently, there are a variety of initiatives around the world where healthcare practitioners prescribe nature as a preventive and curative measure to counteract deficiencies and serious health issues. This is taking place in the U.K., U.S. and Europe, for conditions such as stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
The simple practice of being in nature is actually proven to repair DNA and reduce the risk of serious diseases, and trials utilizing EEG have shown exposure to nature on brain activity
Whereby spending time in nature was proven to have a beneficial effect on many of our health biomarkers, including:
• Decreased levels of stress hormones (cortisol)
• Increased nervous system activity
• Boosted immune function
• Improved attention span and memory
• Increased focus and cognitive flexibility
• Lower mortality rates for those who grew up or living near green spaces
The benefits of nature can simply be attained by getting out in nature for a walk daily, below are a few tips outside to make the most of our time in our neighbourhood or local park when we are able to.
• Gift yourself by giving yourself a short digital detox by leaving your phone behind
• Clear your mind and breathe deeply
• Cultivate a mindset of gratitude
• Focus on the moment, taking time to linger, instead of rushing, adapting a meditative approach to your walking
• Notice the plants, colours, and aromas of the flora around you
• Look upwards with a sense of appreciation, notice the formations of the clouds as they move across the sky
When you don’t have the luxury to take a walk for 30 minutes, take shorter spurts of time, even two or three blocks of 10 to 15 minutes a day, a minimum of 3 times a week are shown to be highly beneficial and associated with improved levels of physical health and overall well-being.
Understanding the relevance of having regular access to green spaces and nature is becoming increasingly relevant in relation to the continued growth in urban living and concentrated developments within major cities, meaning more of us are exposed to high levels of stress and pollution which highlights the need more than ever to build into our daily self-care rituals and habits, the importance of connecting with nature.
References
• https://www.news-medical.net/health/Friluftsliv-The-Norwegian-Prescription-for-Health-and-Happiness.aspx
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270705947_Human_Physiological_Benefits_of_Viewing_Nature_EEG_Responses
• https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/research/nature-how-connecting-nature-benefits-our-mental-health
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9754067/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7344564/
• https://natureconnectionguide.com/us-doctors-are-prescribing-nature-in-34-states/
