For a long time, Mindfulness went under the radar as a form of meditation practiced by a select group of people. It was therefore not appreciated by mainstream society for the huge benefit it can have on mental and emotional well-being. Thanks to a lot of research and development, it is now widely used in the fields of medicine, education and even business.
Mindfulness is not a therapy, but rather a toolkit of skills that can be applied and practiced to enhance the coping mechanism of individuals with the stresses of everyday life. The most simplistic explanation would be that, through the senses, it focuses the attention to the present. By being made aware of the connection between the body, mind and emotions, the individual will have a better understanding of their own feelings and behaviour. Examples of a practice would be mindful walking, body scanning, breathing awareness, visualizations, etc. Recent studies, of which there are thousands, have shown regular mindfulness practice to be effective in managing stress, pain, depression, overall health and immunity, behavior regulation as well as relationships. As with all non-invasive interventions, it is not an overnight cure and must be practiced regularly. In an environment like House Horizon, staff as well as residents can benefit greatly from this practice.
Mindfulness is used successfully with very young children and in the UK for example, the NHS is teaching children and adults with learning disabilities Mindfulness to manage anxiety, anger, and general sociability.
When guided by a skilled and sensitive person, the experience should be person based and without any judgement. There are no rights and wrongs, and the outcome of every session should be calmness and an enhanced understanding of self.
Nature provides the perfect background for an intensified mindful experience and can lead to humility, wonder and inspiration. A great example of such an exercise would be an “awe walk” where you apply all the senses to see where they lead you. Mindfulness as a practice ties in beautifully with the holistic, spiritual and eco-based ethos of House Horizon.
As it is, we are fortunate to be surrounded by a beautiful environment , and this is why our efforts are focused on preserving, rehabilitating, and moulding it so that our beneficiaries can connect with nature and to offer them a meaningful, fulfilled and dignified existence.
Our projects which are focused on creating nature experiences include: development of walking paths with pause areas, nurturing lush sections for forest bathing, and development of a Therapeutic Sensory Stimulation Garden, as it is known as one of the promising intervention tools to improve the psychological, cognitive, social, and physical functions. It is also part of our intrinsic values to preserve and improve the environment for the community and for the planet.
If you would like to get involved in any of these projects, please contact bemarking@huishorison.org.za.
