Perfect Poise, Perfect Life
Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life
By Noel Kingsley
Publisher Hodder Mobius
AVAILABLE HERE
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Green space = less stress
Green Park, London
Feeling stressed? Get out onto grass and amongst trees for a while. That's the upshot of recent UN figures that show a correlation between exposure to green space and reduced stress levels.
Apparently the number of city dwellers is increasing at an alarming rate, with London being the most densely populated city in Europe and the 15th in the world. Surveys by analysts CACI and TN show that traditional industrial towns may soon be overtaken by inner city boroughs as the unhealthiest in Britain. Insufficient green foliage, trees, grass in our cities and towns make for a toxic environment for us to live and bring up our children. But environmental psychologists have found a strong link between mental health, happiness and reduced stress levels with regular access to parks, country and outdoor nature.
Dr Terry Hartig of Sweden's Institute of Housing and Urban Research says: " Living in a city makes it easy to forget we are an animal that has evolved in nature for thousands of years - and this dependence on nature is deeply embedded in our brain."
Studies at Illinois University have found that children suffering from attention deficit hyperactive disorder benefited enormously by getting out of the classroom or home to play in a natural environment...on grass, around trees and other natural surroundings. But with the increase in home building in Britain it's easy to see how our green spaces are coming under pressure. City planners must be encouraged to make sure that we have adequate green spaces such as public parks, built into new housing areas.
I think myself lucky that I come to work on my motorbike these days, whereas a few years ago I would have used the London Underground. At least now I get to see Hyde Park for a few minutes on my way in. Winter months obviously don't provide much opportunity in the early hours but from now on and right through the summer it will be a glorious experience. But with the extending daylight into the evening there is an increasing chance of going to a park after work or even after dinner. And as for weekends, then this surely is the time to get out into our local park. My partner and I regularly enjoy a Sunday trip into the country for a ramble. My only regret is that my car is fueled by petrol and I am adding to CO2s and depleting the Ozone layer in the process. (My mental note is to investigate electric or hybrid cars next time I purchase.)
It can be difficult to fit in a visit to a park when we lead such busy lives. But I remember one survey a year or two ago that said that looking at a tree or a view of a park even from a window for 5 minutes can have a positive effect on health by reducing stress levels. Even a picture of a tree can do this. (I have specialised in photographing trees for around 12 years and continue to get a real kick from the process. You can see some of my work all be it in black and white (!) on www.noelkingsley.com or by clicking on the tab at the top of your screen.)
So if you want to reduce stress levels get out into a green space when you can, visit a local park, have a picture of a garden or tree or park on your desk, put a plant on your desk, get out at weekends and get some country air and remember to breathe...... :-)
