Nature as Nervous System Medicine
If you’ve followed Living Resonance, you know I talk a lot about coherence—helping your nervous system shift out of survival mode and back into steadiness.
What I’ve learned over and over is this:
Nature makes that shift easier.
Not just for kids. For everyone.
When we step outside—into trees, open sky, fresh air, moving water, or a quiet trail—something in the body often softens without us having to force it. People breathe deeper. Their shoulders drop. Their attention widens. And suddenly the tools we practice (breath, awareness, HRV-based coherence techniques) actually land.
That’s one reason I’m building Living Resonance as an outdoor-friendly practice.
🌲 Nature Helps the Nervous System “Downshift”
Most of us are carrying more stimulation than we realize:
screens, notifications, constant input
stress and time pressure
noise, lights, crowds
emotional load from work and caregiving
the ongoing sense of “I should be doing more”
When the nervous system is overloaded, it’s harder to regulate—even if you know all the right tools.
Nature supports regulation because it tends to:
reduce mental “grip” and rumination
restore attention and focus
lower stress physiology over time
create a sense of space and safety in the body
In plain language: being outside often helps your system remember it can come back to baseline.
💓 Coherence + Nature = A Practical Combination
Coherence is trainable. We can practice it anywhere.
But nature is like a supportive backdrop—especially when life feels loud.
When your body feels even a little safer, it becomes easier to:
slow your breathing
steady your heart rhythm
widen your perspective
recover faster after stress
reconnect with yourself (and others)
This is one reason I like meeting people outdoors when it makes sense. It’s gentle, real, and it often speeds up the “settling” part of the process.
📍 My Office Is Everywhere (Los Alamos Edition)
We live in an incredibly beautiful area, and I want Living Resonance to fit real life.
That means sessions can happen at:
local parks
trailheads
calm walking paths
outdoor benches
or even your own backyard
Sometimes your nervous system does better when you’re not in a formal office setting. You can move. You can breathe. You can look at trees instead of a clock.
And honestly? A lot of people open up more easily when they’re walking side-by-side instead of sitting face-to-face.
🌿 A Note About Forest Therapy
I’m not forest therapy certified yet—I’m planning to complete my certification in June 2026.
Right now, my work is grounded in:
nervous system regulation support
HeartMath®-informed coherence tools (including HRV when appropriate)
nature-based practices that are simple, accessible, and not “woo” or clinical
Over time, my forest therapy training will deepen the structure of how I guide nature-based sessions. But the heart of it is already here: slowing down, using the senses, and letting the body reset in the presence of the natural world.
🌬️ Try This: A 2-Minute Nature Reset
You can do this anywhere outside—even stepping out your front door.
1) Arrive with your senses (30 seconds)
Notice quietly:
3 things you see
2 things you hear
1 thing you feel (air, temperature, feet on ground)
2) Slow your exhale (60 seconds)
Breathe gently. Make the exhale a little longer than the inhale.
3) Add one true phrase (30 seconds)
Try:
“I’m here.”
“This moment is enough.”
“Let my body settle.”
That’s it. No big performance. Just a small reset that your body can trust.
🌲 What This Looks Like at Living Resonance
Depending on your goals, we might combine:
simple breath + coherence practices
HRV assessment/biofeedback tools (when helpful)
sensory-based grounding outdoors
movement-friendly regulation strategies
practical tools for stress, sleep, anxiety, focus, and emotional resilience
This work isn’t about being calm all the time.
It’s about building a repeatable pathway back to center—especially when life gets hard.
📍Want to Meet Outside?
If you’re craving steadiness, clarity, and a nervous system that feels more like an ally, I’d love to support you.
Living Resonance offers:
1-on-1 sessions (outdoors when possible)
HRV assessments for adults and children
family sessions + small group offerings in Los Alamos, NM
[ 👉 Book a Session ] or [ Contact Me ] to ask questions and find the right fit.
🧾 Further Reading (Forest Bathing + Nature and Health)
Here are strong starting points you can cite on your site. (If you want, I’ll format these into clean APA style exactly how your blog displays sources.)
Forest bathing / shinrin-yoku (core)
Hansen, M. M., Jones, R., & Tocchini, K. (2017). Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) and nature therapy: A state-of-the-art review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Li, Q. (2010). Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine.
Park, B.-J., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kasetani, T., Kagawa, T., & Miyazaki, Y. (2010). The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere). (widely cited series of studies; often in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine and related journals).
Song, C., Ikei, H., & Miyazaki, Y. (2016–2017). Systematic review work on the physiological effects of nature therapy/forest bathing (peer-reviewed reviews; commonly published in IJERPH).
Nature exposure, stress, mood, attention (broad evidence base)
Twohig-Bennett, C., & Jones, A. (2018). The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes. Environmental Research.
Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., & Daily, G. C. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. PNAS.
Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological Science.
Ulrich, R. S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science.
Kaplan, R., & Kaplan, S. (1989). The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. (Foundational for Attention Restoration Theory.)
