30 Days Wild 2016 - 2

30 Days Wild 2016 - 2

Health and wellbeing in nature
30dayswild countdown 2

This month, I’m trying to integrate wild experiences into everything I do, not just special jaunts to see things. I’ve started running, not far but 5 or 10K max, and have done some park runs as well as wild runs on my own and in groups. I’m getting fitter, slowly, but it makes it more fun as I gasp for breath, that this spring, even in urban parks, the trees look beautiful. Parks are full of wildflowers, blossom and nesting birds and I’ve noticed it can feel like you are running through natural woods even in the middle of town.

The other way I keep well and fit in nature is through practicing Tai Chi, which I have learnt over the last 20 years – I even teach a little too. It’s a great way to connect to nature. The flowing sequential movements working with the natural breath slow you down and help you tune into the natural rhythms of nature. It’s not uncommon to see wildlife up close, as they don’t appear to see the slow movement as a human presence. On several occasions now I’ve had a sparrowhawk fly between my outstretched arms, and on one retreat, whilst practicing in a group, a barn owl flew round and round us, obviously trying to figure out what on earth we were doing. Tai Chi is always better outside and I’m lucky to have a big overgrown garden so every morning, and most evenings, I’m out there getting a green lung full of wild and trying to tune into my natural energy and that around me. I’d wholly recommend it!