 Ready to hit the trail? Fall is a great time to kick it up and gain the many health benefits of hiking. Build stronger leg muscles, breathe in the fresh scent of pine, and get your heart pumping. Always check with your healthcare provider if this is a new activity to ensure you are healthy enough to partake in this exercise. If you want to make your hiking experience more enjoyable, here are three pieces of equipment you may want to consider purchasing:  Merrell’s Moab Hiking Boot: BUY NOW: https://amzn.to/3X90t5E These super popular hiking boots are great for easy-to-moderate hiking. They are sturdy and waterproof.  Collapsable Trekking poles BUY NOW: https://amzn.to/3MvvBaz Looking to add some stability to your hike. These best-selling trekking poles are collapsible and easy to assemble. Note: If you have arm or neck issues or previous injuries, check with your healthcare provider before using.  Water is ESSENTIAL when hiking. Who wants to carry a water bottle? This backpack includes a water bladder that balances the water's weight and allows you to take a sip and quench your thirst as you need to via a straw. Water Backpack: BUY NOW: https://amzn.to/4cLOaSp See you on the trail!
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 Lush green lawns, once a sign of prestige and luxury, are now viewed as environmentally unfriendly and toxic. As awareness grows about the research linking weed-killing chemicals like glyphosate to cancer and other illnesses and the need for more native plants to help support wildlife, property owners are taking action by unlawning.
Removing grass and replacing it with other options has many potential benefits, in addition to decreasing toxicity and helping our pollinators and other critters. It can help promote biodiversity, which studies have shown enhances our well-being. It may also save money and time. Looking for ways to jump on this sustainable trend? Here are four: Create a Vegetable Garden: Imagine the joy of harvesting your own homegrown tomatoes. Section off a sunny part of your lawn, till the soil, add some compost and a fence if needed, and fill it with your favorite veggies. To learn more about how to get started, check out the Healthy Green Thumbs video series. Make Yourself a Nature Sanctuary Do you yearn for the soothing sound of water running over rocks or the shade of a tree on a hot summer day? The possibilities for creating your own tranquil space are endless! Designate a section of your property as a quiet space and add natural elements that will bring you joy: a water feature, a bird feeder, an Adirondack chair, some trees, and seasonal perennials. You don’t have to do it all at once. Make it a hobby. Ask for gifts that will add to the serenity of your special place. Add a Forest Do you love the color of fall foliage or the magnificent blooms of spring? Plant trees that offer color and accent the seasons. Enjoy watching the trees mature and provide birds, squirrels, and other wildlife homes. Go Native Plant some native plants amongst the lawn and let nature take over. Plants commonly considered ‘weeds’ may start growing, providing essential nutrients to bees, and some benefit people. Take a class to learn how to forage and create teas, tinctures, and more with plants outside our doors. Are you excited to learn more about how you can live a more joyful, vibrant life in harmony with Mother Nature? Sign up for my free seasonal e-newsletter on the homepage of TheNatureNurse.com .  Photo Credit: ©Abed Ismail "Awe is the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world." -Dacher Keltner, Awe: The Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life Less than ten days ago on Easter Sunday, thousands gathered along the miles-long Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina to witness the breathtaking sunrise. Today, something very similar is happening as towns along the path of the solar eclipse prepare for crowds eager to witness the rare spectacle of the moon covering the sun in broad daylight. Spiritual leaders suggest that this unique event presents an opportunity for personal growth, as the veil between worlds opens, allowing us to release what no longer serves us and manifest our desires.  Photo Credit: © Susan Allison-Dean During the pandemic, our usual activities like concerts, shopping, and going to school or work were severely restricted. The confinement and fear of indoor spaces triggered a survival response within many of us, known as biophilia-a desire to commune with nature.
As pandemic restrictions eased, people flocked to parks - local, state, and national. By 10 am, parks were already declaring themselves "Full" or "At Capacity" on social media. Yellowstone reported soaring attendance up by 30 percent. Could the solace people found in Mother Nature during difficult times be fueling the increasing desire to immerse ourselves in the natural world? Do these remarkable events—stunning sunrises, rare cosmic phenomena, and vibrant spring blooms—have a profound impact on our minds, bodies, and souls? The science says yes. We think so too. Share your thoughts on how these recent celestial events are impacting you in the comments below. We would love to read them! Dr. Donna Gaffney is a psychotherapist, author, and nurse researcher focused on mental health. Her latest book, "Courageous Well-Being for Nurses: Strategies for Renewal" (Johns Hopkins Press), is packed with tips to boost your well-being—even if you're not a nurse. Susan Allison-Dean is a Board Certified Advanced Holistic Nurse, Writer and Cetacean advocate. Want to develop a deeper connection with nature? Check out her offerings at www.TheNatureNurse.com  The word is out. Walking has so many health benefits that countless people are now incorporating this form of exercise into their day. Now that Spring is in the air in the Northern Hemisphere, we have an opportunity to add some extra pep to our steps with these three tips. One: Learn about the medicinal herbs that are growing along your walking path. For example, just this morning I picked some purple dead nettles which when boiled in water to make tea can have diuretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial effects. (1) Before harvesting any plants for medicinal use, be sure to consult with a certified Herbalist and your licensed healthcare team to ensure that it is safe for you to use.  Two: Take notice and appreciate the emergence of Spring. We all get hijacked by stress, but taking time to slow down and connect with our natural world has been shown to have significant stress-reducing benefits. (2). If you walk the same path regularly, notice how the tree branches begin with simple buds along their branches. In a day or two those buds may begin to swell. As the temperature warms and daylight extends, a leaf may begin to unfurl before your eyes. Ask yourself, how are you choosing to emerge this Spring season? Can you extend yourself some grace as you notice that the natural environment around you recreates itself slowly, not all at once?  Three: Add an evening walk to your day. A morning walk within an hour of waking has a profound impact on regulating our circadian rhythm which can significantly help us sleep well. (3). As daylight increases, we have the opportunity to add a walk to the end of our day. Not only will we improve our digestion (4), but if we time it right, we may get to experience the awe of a magnificent sunset.  Want to learn more about how walking with Nature can enhance your holistic health? Download Get In Step With Nature now LINK. Free for kindleunlimited users.
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