Above: Some of my current favourite ‘indoor nature’ things!

In episode 25 of the ecotherapy podcast, I respond to a great question from Colin in Calgary, Canada. Colin emailed to ask what kind of indoor ecotherapy activities are suitable during the winter—when the far north is simply too cold to be venturing outdoors. Click on the slim black player above to listen.

This was such a great question and one that I found myself having a surprising number of answers to. Of course, the simplest and most powerful thing we can do to connect with nature is to go outdoors and experience it in the wild, but the fact is, it is just not always possible. So, can we keep up a nature practice if we have to spend a lot of time indoors? The answer is definitely yes.

For many of us, staying indoors for long periods of time is not a question of choice. Whether it is because of extreme weather conditions, disability or life circumstances, it’s sometimes just not possible to go outside to experience nature. This is when we do two things: we bring nature inside with us, and we engage with our imaginations in numerous creative ways.

As part of my work as an online ecotherapist, I have worked with several people this year who couldn’t go out due to COVID restrictions. It forced me to think creatively, and to try some new things out, and I have come to the conclusion that indoor ecotherapy is more than just possible. In fact, even if we can go outside regularly, the reality is that we still spend a lot of time indoors (or at least, most of us do). Therefore, it’s useful to find ways of engaging with nature when we are inside as well as outside, no matter what our circumstances are. This becomes even more important when, like Colin in Calgary, going outdoors for nature walks is not possible for months at a time each year.

Tune in to this week’s nature therapy radio show to get tips on how to bring ecotherapy indoors to you. I discuss everything from bonding with rocks and plants to using technology to connect with nature (rather than distract us from it.)

If you are struggling to connect with nature in the winter—or for any other reason— you might also want to join my monthly online ‘nature chat’ events by becoming a patron of the podcast and offering a small regular donation. (yes folks, I can never resist a plug!). Otherwise, I hope that my little ecotherapy podcast here is supporting you with your ecotherapy practice, even if just by listening to me nattering about nature every week!

That’s all from me for this week folks. Please do share your ideas for the podcast with me; contact me anytime at stephen@naturetherapyonline.net

Take care for now.

Green wishes,

Stephen x