A Gentle Return to Ourselves in the Wild
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Take a moment to connect with nature - wherever you are. In this episode, mentor and advanced guide trainer, John Roff, speaks to Bernard Stiglingh, a field guide at Singita Kruger.
Within moments of stepping into nature, our heart rates slow, and our breathing deepens. Muscles release, and our senses start to recalibrate, drawing our attention to details we may usually miss, like the patterns of branches or the feeling of wind against skin. After a while, blood pressure and cortisol levels drop. Mood and memory improve. Small moments, big shifts.
John shares how green spaces soothe us, how the sound of water settles us and how birdsong signals safety to our nervous system. Together, he and Bernard reflect on how guiding has evolved, and how nature therapy (which John teaches) touches hearts and souls in quiet, beautiful ways because people are longing for more.
When we spend time in natural spaces, we notice details, shapes and sounds and remember our connection to something bigger than ourselves. We don’t return to nature; we are nature, and we can move through the world more consciously. “My desire is that an emotional bridge is built through experiences in nature,” says John.
Even watching nature documentaries or listening to sounds can help us manage stress. Test it here, listen to our Sounds of Sweni (20 Mins)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2IEXTj1pji9tRqliVCjivK?si=QHyLmaWPSIWtxx8nPiLwrQ
Stay for John’s poem at the end. Share this episode with other nature lovers.
Within moments of stepping into nature, our heart rates slow, and our breathing deepens. Muscles release, and our senses start to recalibrate, drawing our attention to details we may usually miss, like the patterns of branches or the feeling of wind against skin. After a while, blood pressure and cortisol levels drop. Mood and memory improve. Small moments, big shifts.
John shares how green spaces soothe us, how the sound of water settles us and how birdsong signals safety to our nervous system. Together, he and Bernard reflect on how guiding has evolved, and how nature therapy (which John teaches) touches hearts and souls in quiet, beautiful ways because people are longing for more.
When we spend time in natural spaces, we notice details, shapes and sounds and remember our connection to something bigger than ourselves. We don’t return to nature; we are nature, and we can move through the world more consciously. “My desire is that an emotional bridge is built through experiences in nature,” says John.
Even watching nature documentaries or listening to sounds can help us manage stress. Test it here, listen to our Sounds of Sweni (20 Mins)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2IEXTj1pji9tRqliVCjivK?si=QHyLmaWPSIWtxx8nPiLwrQ
Stay for John’s poem at the end. Share this episode with other nature lovers.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to Nature Therapy and Guide Training
- 01:58 Understanding Nature Therapy
- 03:50 Evolution of Safari Guiding
- 07:07 Scientific Benefits of Nature Immersion
- 11:48 Magical Moments in Nature Guiding
- 14:16 Adapting Nature Therapy for Different Guides
- 16:14 Guided Nature Experience on Granite Ridges
- 19:24 Deeper Connections with Wildlife
- 23:07 The Therapeutic Value of Water
- 28:44 Conclusion and Poem
