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NOVEMBER 2 0 0 7 Issue 10 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR H O T O F F T H E P R E S S Events, announcements and news from around the region. Que Pasa? C O U N T R Y F O C U S : USVI Quadrilles : Carnivals and Holidays Fascinating VIs : Ancient Balls Upscale : Eco-sensitive in the VIs S P E C I A L F E A T U R E S Roatan : Glittering Getaway Winners Antigua : A Small Class Education Ecotherapy : Rainforest Health Guatemala : El Rio Dulce Water, Water : St. Kitts Conference Disabled Diving : Enabled to Scuba Tourism : Art of Green Maintenance P I C K O F T H E M O N T H Fishing and Diving business Cozumel Historic Inn for Sale in St. John Bargain Turnkey Villa in Honduras

KEYHOLE BAY Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras ....includes single-family estate home sites and luxury condominiums in breathtaking hillside and seaside settings

Life Needs the Caribbean : Ecotherapy in the Rainforests
By Terri Henry

At a recent conference on sustainable tourism one of the best marketing lines I heard was simple: “Life Needs the Caribbean.”

For those of us who appreciate the wonders of this region, this is far more than a great sounding catchphrase but a genuine reality.

The diverse chain of Caribbean islands deliver so many enjoyable aspects of life such as warm sunshine, clear seas, tropical fruits, beautiful beaches, lush forests, cool rivers and exotic wildlife. Surely all of these aspects of nature are things that each of us ‘need’ to experience in our lives?

For most of our human history we have lived in close connection with the cycles of nature yet in modern times this has changed dramatically. Now in much of the world many people live in cities where food comes from the supermarket rather than our own garden; 24 hour or late night shopping and street lighting blur the distinction between night and day; and as we traverse long highways in air conditioned cars we lose our intimate connection with the land and waters.

Whilst increased technology has bought many advantages it has also led to increasing disconnection from the beautiful and complex web of life that sustains us.

Cultural historian, Thomas Berry laments that, “We have stopped talking to the rivers; we are not listening to the wind and stars. We no longer feel our kinship with other life on the planet. We have lost that primordial sense of belonging to a whole web of life.”

Many are now convinced that this split from nature is responsible for the numerous personal and ecological disorders we see in modern society.

Yet there is still hope that these ills can be reversed and remedied by moving towards a renewed bond with the natural world. Certainly the natural environment of the Caribbean is the perfect place to regain our sense of connection with the Earth and ourselves by immersing in a wholesome dose of Ecotherapy.

Our need for the natural world for complete wellbeing and health has been the subject of many studies in recent years.

In May 2007 the UK based mental health organization MIND released their research report on how our connection with the natural world contributes to our mental health and showed quite clearly that contact with nature is an essential part of a healthy human psyche. Their scientific study documented amongst other things, that participants felt increased self esteem and reduced tension after contact with nature in opposition to reduced self esteem and increased tension when walking through shopping centres or urban areas.

In fact, their evidence accrued so strongly in favour of being in nature that they are using the comprehensive results of their studies to recommend that UK doctors consider referring patients for Ecotherapy to combat stress and depression instead of resorting to prescription drugs.

The field of Ecopsychology has grown tremendously in recent years and much has been written about the synergistic and mutually enhancing connection between our personal and planetary wellbeing.

The eminent Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson has for many years provided evidence to support the Biophilia hypothesis which states that humans are predisposed to love nature. Indeed, many people’s ideal vacation from the stress of everyday life is somewhere quiet, natural and pristine as we instinctively gravitate to our ancient roots. Through numerous case studies and documentation, Ecopsychologists have clearly shown that a consistent connection with nature is necessary for our full psychological, physical, emotional and spiritual health.

EVEN WITH THE SIMPLE ACT OF HOLDING OUR BREATH WE REALISE HOW UTTERLY DEPENDENT WE ARE ON OUR NATURAL WORLD FOR SURVIVAL.

Psychologist states, “There is no such thing as ‘individual’ health separate from the systems within which the individual exists.” Simply, we are not separate from nature we are a part of it and whatever we do to nature we do to ourselves. Thus our connection to and preservation of the natural world is vital if we desire to life healthy and fulfilled lives.

Ecotherapy is a term often used to describe a process of consciously reconnecting with the natural world.

Whilst simply spending time in nature is valuable in itself, Ecotherapy is more than just going to visit a natural area to view, utilize or take pictures. Instead it provides the experience of communing with nature and flowing in harmony with the natural rhythms of life.

Ecotherapy encourages us to be at one with nature and offers the opportunity to enjoy guided and intimate sensory connection with the natural world and connect with the experiences of others.

Ecotherapy opens our sensory awareness and perception and encourages a sense of meditative mindfulness that is calming and enjoyable.

A participant at one of my rainforest Ecotherapy sessions in Dominica commented that through taking part in the workshop process, “I was able to stop feeling my body aches and pains and totally relax. When I opened my eyes I was reborn.”

The therapeutic benefits of Ecotherapy are diverse and different for everyone but generally have been shown to include:

• Increased feelings of self-respect, self-esteem and personal power
• The experience of greater health, wellness and vitality
• Boosted creativity, energy, sensory awareness and perception
• Reduced stress and increased inner peace, serenity and satisfaction
• An enhanced ability to form responsible and trusting relationships
• Inspiration, enjoyment and fun!

Ecotherapy can be an individual experience but the dynamic of working with and sharing in a group tends to lead to a far more dramatic shift in perception as we learn from others and open ourselves to share our feelings with the group.

Group work facilitated in nature is highly valuable for encouraging more cooperative and trusting relationships and can be used for building camaraderie and team spirit.

Mary-Jayne Rust, a Jungian psychologist runs Ecotherapy training programs and says she finds that once people spend just a short time in contact with a natural area they are far more open, and bond with each other very quickly.

Observing the participants communication, with direct eye-contact and a deeper sense of trust, she comments that “When we re-experience this, it reminds us of what we have lost in the march towards progress, but it’s very easy to forget that we have lost something so precious until we find it again… when we spend deep time in nature, it brings us back to our own nature, to the early experience of our species, to original nature. This brings deep nourishment, like plugging into the source of life.”

Reconnecting with nature can be done even in areas which may seem nature deprived such as inner cities where the only element of nature might be a tree or flower poking through cracks in the concrete.

It is certainly possible to enjoy an Ecotherapy experience with a potted plant or house cat. However, there is an extra dimension added to the experience when in wild, untouched natural areas so the remaining forests, clean seas and rivers in the Caribbean lend themselves perfectly to this immersion.

ECOTHERAPY IN THE CARIBBEAN IS PERFECT FOR VISITORS WHO SPEND THE MAJORITY OF THEIR TIME IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS.

Environment minister of Holland, Kees Zoeteman, remarks that “we live in this technical world of concrete buildings where you have to focus your energy inward in order to endure. The domain of the [subtle realm] is lost.” In a workshop I conducted in London we walked from a park, along a busy road and into the woods. All the participants said they felt a marked difference in the transition between these environments and commented that they ‘shut down’ their senses when amongst the hustle and bustle of the main road.

There was an almost immediate change to a far more relaxed, refreshed and open feeling when in the natural settings.

Wilderness guide Steve Harper notes that people experience a great renewal and awakening of their sensory perception on entering a wilderness area and remarks that,“suddenly we are bathed in new sounds, awesome sights, interesting textures, different smells and taste. This ‘coming to our senses’ is a subtly powerful and underrated experience”

African Shaman Malidoma Somé tells us that, “If you peek long enough into the natural world – the trees, the hills, the rivers and all natural things – you start to realize that their spirit is much bigger than what can be seen.” Thus time out to be immersed in wild nature can awaken dormant faculties and open up other levels of consciousness which start to restore diversity to the mind and spirit.

ONE OTHER MAJOR BENEFIT OF CONNECTING TO NATURE IN THE CARIBBEAN IS OUR ACCESS TO PRISTINE AND UNSPOILT NIGHT SKIES.

One other major benefit of connecting to nature in the Caribbean is our access to pristine and unspoiled night time sky!

It is unfortunate that the light pollution of most major cities drowns out the magnificence of the night sky and the full array of twinkling stars is replaced with a ubiquitous orange haze. As our connection with the Earth is being severed, so too is our connection with the intergalactic world.

Being connected to the stars can give us a wider perspective and increase the ability and willingness to contemplate the bigger questions of life and find our place within the wider web of nature.

Being in nature is especially useful for children who need to have a connection with the natural world as part of their self development.

Richard Louv documented the startling effects of our increasing separation from the natural word in his book ‘Last Child in the Woods’. He shows the parallel between the rise of indoor technological based play and structured activities with the rise in childhood obesity and attention deficit disorders.

Journalist Sarah Karnasiewicz interviewed Louv and summarized that “children who are given early and ongoing positive exposure to nature thrive in intellectual, spiritual and physical ways that their "shut-in" peers do not. By reducing stress, sharpening concentration, and promoting creative problem solving, "nature-play" is also emerging as a promising therapy for attention-deficit disorder and other childhood maladies.”

The youngest member I’ve had in my workshop was 9 years old and completely engaged in the process alongside the adults. A great way to engage children with nature is through simple activities that invite them to explore freely and come back to share their stories.

For adults, Ecotherapy invites us to experience the world in new ways and can reawaken a childlike sense of awe and wonder. As we discover new things our brain neurons stay healthy and working optimally. As we acknowledge and express gratitude for each moment we open ourselves to greater pleasure and joy in life.

The Ecotherapy sessions I facilitate involve interactive and exploratory activities in nature and combine an eclectic blend of thoughtful reflection, movement, conversations and deep ecology education.

We begin by learning to ask and gain permission from nature to be in her presence and learn from her wisdom. After the activities we share our insights as a group taking time to authentically communicate and deeply listen. What is especially valuable is that the Ecotherapy process is more than just a one-time ‘treatment’ to temporarily release stress but an awakening of a practice that can be continued in our daily lives wherever we are.

Rather than ‘doing’ something we allow ourselves to just ‘be’ our most natural selves. One participant from my workshop felt that “Reconnecting to Nature through these activities stimulates our mental, physical, emotional and psychological aspects of our spirit and serves as a compass to guide our thoughts, words and actions day-to-day.”

Ultimately a deep connection with all aspects of nature can offer enhanced meaning and depth to life and assist us to gain a connection to something much bigger than ourselves.

As we consistently engage with nature, we feel an expanded sense of self that is beyond the boundaries of our own skin and includes the whole of the natural world. In developing our ecological self we learn to become a part of a wider community of beings and realize the depth of connection that unites us all.

As we fully use our senses we gain further appreciation for our body and the way we are able to interact with everything else that surrounds us and life becomes more open, joyful and exciting!

The more we appreciate nature the more desire we have to care for it and leave a positive legacy for future generations. This is turn gives us a sense of purpose and pride and creates a positive regenerative cycle.

Nature is certainly vital to all of us for our health wellbeing on every level and there is so much of it to be enjoyed in the Caribbean.

So does ‘Life Need the Caribbean’?

Well there are three answers to that question…Yes, yes and yes!

Author : Terri Henry facilitates Ecotherapy group adventures in the pristine rainforest environments of Dominica. The Ecotherapy process is suitable for people of all ages and abilities and is an uplifting, rejuvenating day for everyone involved. Those who want to extend their love affair with nature can join the ‘Nature's Wisdom Retreat’ for a week of a holistic wellness experiences with yoga, meditation, hiking and Ecotherapy adventures.

Email : Contact Terri Henry for more information about the next Retreat

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