Tag: mental health

Introducing MacGregor Point’s new Forest Therapy Trail!

Today’s blog comes from Dr. Romola Porchuk from the Global Institute of Forest Therapy and Nature Connection, and Cortney LeGros, the Healthy Parks Healthy People coordinator at Ontario Parks.

Forest therapy is much more than just a walk in the woods.

It’s all about the journey, not the destination, or the number of steps you track.

As you move your way through a forest therapy trail you might start with a deep breath, close your eyes for a moment, and allow your senses to guide you.

Continue reading Introducing MacGregor Point’s new Forest Therapy Trail!

Add nature to your self-care toolkit

As the days get shorter and the colder weather arrives, it’s time to talk self-care.  Bubble baths and meditation are great options, but have you considered adding nature to your self-care toolkit?

October 10 is World Mental Health Day, and it’s the perfect time to think of ways we can take care of ourselves and our families.

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Mental health benefits of the outdoors

Do you ever find yourself feeling calmer, more relaxed, or more focused after spending time in nature? That’s because time outside has studied and proven benefits for your mental health.

Mental illness affects one in five Canadians in any given year. Let’s talk about what some Vitamin N (nature) can do for your mental health…

Continue reading Mental health benefits of the outdoors

The healing power of nature for seniors

Getting outdoors is important for people of all ages and walks of life.

Getting outside is a great way to relax and soak up the beauty of nature that surrounds us.

Best of all, there are real benefits to enjoying the outdoors, especially for seniors.

Studies are continuously reporting the benefits gained by seniors who spend time in nature.

These are some of the top reasons older adults should make time to get outside each day:

Continue reading The healing power of nature for seniors

The great outdoors are… great!

Today’s blog comes from Sarah Higginson, a market development specialist with Ontario Parks.

August is over and so is the Healthy Parks Healthy People 30×30 Challenge.

This was my first year taking on the challenge (not counting the year I did it for two days then got distracted) and it was a magical month-long adventure filled with scenery, sunshine, and even some self-awareness!

Continue reading The great outdoors are… great!

4 ways camping helps us slow down and enjoy life

Today’s post comes from Connor Oke, an Ontario Parks marketing intern. 

We live in a world that demands a lot of us.

Canadians work overtime at higher rates than they did 25 years ago. At the same time, we spend more hours in front of screens and on social media, which are linked to increased anxiety and distractedness. We also get less sleep than we did 15 years ago.

Continue reading 4 ways camping helps us slow down and enjoy life

My experience completing the 30×30 Challenge

This blog comes from Lily Carlson, a travel blogger and social media influencer at Lily’s Lens on Life. 

“Spending time in nature has a way of nurturing the soul”

– Katrina Mayer

Ever since I was a little girl, the great outdoors has been tied to so many incredible memories, including hiking with friends, swimming in the lake with my cousins, fishing with my grandparents. Heck, I even worked at summer camps for nine years throughout high school and university. So, naturally (pun intended), the 30×30 Challenge sounded right up my alley!

Continue reading My experience completing the 30×30 Challenge