Are nature's medical benefits scientifically proven?

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Absolutely! Extensive research supports nature's positive impact on our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health and well-being, as well as our relationships and the environment. Explore the evidence:

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Canada’s PaRx: A Prescription for Nature

Handouts on health benefits for adults and children: [Link]

Exploring nature's benefits for the planet: [Link]

UK’s Dose of Nature

Science behind nature's benefits: [Link]

Research on nature's positive impact: [Link]
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What is Nature-based Occupational Therapy?

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Nature-based Occupational Therapy uses nature to promote health, well-being, and quality of life through occupation. ‘Occupation’ refers to any activity that individuals engage in and find meaningful in their everyday life including self-care, productivity (work, school, volunteer), and leisure.

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Three types of nature-based Occupational Therapy include:

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Everyday life with nature: Ways to include nature into your daily activities such as walking a pet or mindfully noticing everyday nature as part of a healthy lifestyle. 

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Health promotion with nature: Nature connection activities such as forest bathing or outdoor exercise to promote your health and well-being. 

 

Therapy with nature:  Structured nature-based activities such as forest therapy or horticultural therapy to address specific goals, including environmental and activity modifications for accessibility, independence, and function (Paynter, 2023).

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What is the difference between Forest Bathing and Forest Therapy?

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Forest bathing, also known as Shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese mindfulness-based practice. It means being immersed in a forest and using your five senses to connect with nature. Forest bathing is for health promotion and can be practiced with or without a guide (Forest Therapy Hub, 2023). [Link]

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Forest therapy is a nature-based intervention using the natural environment as a therapeutic tool. It is led by a healthcare professional, such as an Occupational Therapist, and involves therapeutic goals and activities (Forest Therapy Hub, 2023). [Link]

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Wild Results offers forest bathing to the general public and forest therapy for individual and groups with specific needs.

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What happens during a Forest Bathing or Forest Therapy Session?

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You will be guided on a relaxed 1-2 km urban walk infused with a research-based series of nature connection activities using mindfulness, sensory awareness, reflection circle, expressive art, journaling, and tea ceremony.

 

Sessions are 1-2 hours long and are offered outdoors, indoors, and virtually for those unable to get outdoors.​​

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What is a Canadian Nature Prescription?

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A Canadian Nature Prescription is a real prescription – just not the kind you fill at a pharmacy.

 

Backed by science and led by the PaRx: A Prescription for Nature initiative, it’s a formal way for healthcare professionals, like myself, to “prescribe” time with nature to reduce stress, boost mood, improve physical well-being and much more.

 

It’s a way to socially prescribe the recommended nature dose of 2 hours a week, 20+ minutes at a time.

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What is a Canadian Physical Activity Prescription?

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This is available in Alberta and parts of Ontario. 

 

It is a written prescription from a healthcare professional, like myself (or an exercise professional) that encourages people to get moving – literally – through the Prescription to Get Active (RxTGA) program.

 

It connects people to free access to local recreation opportunities, online resources and much more – making it more financially accessible to try new activities and build healthy habits.