Heartscapes is about journeys of self-discovery of the inner landscape of the heart in the midst of adult midlife. Returning to our roots, reconnecting with nature allows us to lean into our essential need to pause, breathe, and reconnect with our inner selves. What better way to do this than through eco-based holistic practices of play?
Exploring Play in Midlife
As we enter into our mid-lives, we start experiencing many types of challenges, many of which are often blindsiding, sudden, and often unexpected. Daily lives are filled with the comforts that may come with a more longstanding career, but one that is often laced with stress, demands, responsibilities and deadlines. Sometimes we are at or nearing the pinnacle of those careers and without those identifiable goals maybe we start asking ourselves "now what?" If we have children, they are launching requiring a navigating ever-changing terrian of relationship. And there is the extended family, parents and the aging concerns that become part of these shifting winds.
It's a new place to find ourselves in, and if you and I share any similarities in this journey, it is a surprising place. A journey into unknown lands that it seems have been hidden from us, territory that is well-travelled but discussed in small private gatherings more often than not.
Midlife is both beautiful and terrifying. There is a beauty in aging, the wisdom, intelligence and some freedoms that are often elusive in earlier phases. It is also often terrifying as we walk through these liminal years, confront the many losses that occur and lean into our own transformations. All too often, as the body ages, times constricts and other demands, we find our well-known go to strategies begin to fail, and we are left not knowing how to work with some of the transitions.
This is where play, our innate ability to engage in creativity, wonder, curiousity, and motivation, becomes an unexpected answer. And we have to find new ways to re-enter into the "playgrounds." The first is about remembering our playfulness and bringing that mindset to life. Keep in mind that play in this phase of life often looks very different. Sometimes its tackling a problem through a modality like movement, or story-telling, or poetry, music and sometimes by returning to nature. Whatever it is, we know play can help relieve stress, improve creativity and brain function, and help us build relationship and connection. In other words, it's therapuetic; enhances well-being.
The Therapeutic Power of Nature
We are nature and when we can reconnect with the natural environment we receive its benefits. And just what are some of those benefits?
Cognitive benefits improving focus, attention and perspective taking (empathy)
Emotional benefits include improved moods and sense of happiness, improves sense of well-being, a sense of belonging and connection and improved cooperation with others (relational benefits)
Physcial benefits such as decreased blood pressure, and other indicators of physiological stress. Nature helps us connect with organic rhythms of health and healing, invoking more of the relaxation response of the parasympathetic nervous system
Time in or with nature can bring a profound sense of calm and clarity. And it can be in many types of ways and forms. There are many books and studies that indentify as simple as bringing in live plants into your environments has some of the above benefits. That's great news for mid-lifers who might be coping with more health compromises or time demands!
Holistic Practices of Ecotheraplay
We can identify holistic practices as those which encompass the mind, body, and spirit – nurturing a sense of balance and harmony within ourselves. Holistic practices are dynamic and honor our wholeness, independence and interdependence. Among the benefits of these practices are improved centering of thoughts, releasing tension, and cultivating a deeper connection with inner self. As part of the natural unfolding of the psychological and emotional liminal space of midlife, we often find ourselves more drawn into holistic concepts.
I call the holistic practices offered through Heartscapes, LLC ecotheraplay. It is a concept that is the synthesis of my own unique life experiences within the field of human services for nearly three decades, the 9 month journey of learning to become a Certified Morning Altars Teacher founded by the work of Day Schildkret, and the intensive hourse of study as a registered yoga teacher and mind-body practioner specializing in application of polyvagal theory and yoga. Eco-based, Therapuetic, and Playful (being able to re-engage curiosity and not take ourselves too seriously).
Ecotheraplay: A Playful Journey Towards Self-Discovery called Heartscapes
Embarking on a heartscape journey of ecotheraplay holistic practices is more than a leisurely pastime, an individual heartscape session, a set of movements or somatic strategies, or even a heartscape workshop– it's a pathway to self-discovery and personal growth. Through these activities, you can re-awaken and explore new strategies in navigating the challenging midlife terrains.
Whether your engaging in a private session related to grief, loss, change, celebration or transition, or attending a group workshop that is focusing on your elemental nature and how to renew from burnout, each practice is engaging with your heart-fullness. Ecotheraplay let's nature be your vast container, play be your vehicle and the practices to be your ongoing companions towards a more fulfilled and balanced midlife experience.
In conclusion, my hope is that you will embrace the invitation to lean into the magic of eco-based holistic practices. The power of ecotheraplay lies in it's ability to reconnect us with our inner child, revitalize our spirit, and foster a deep sense of our own understanding and guide to well-being.
Hopefully we will meet soon and embark on a journey of self-discovery like never before!
Keywords: Holistic Practices; Midlife Crisis; Land Art
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