'Satori' is a Japanese Zen Buddhist word meaning:

​

- seeing in to one's true nature

- sudden enlightenment and a state of consciousness attained by intuitive illumination, not through rational thought

 - awakening/comprehension/understanding

- acquiring of a new point of view in our dealings with life & our world

​

Going for walks amidst the wild flowers and trees, getting hands on with natural crafts, tuning in to the senses and releasing thoughts and feelings on to paper through creative writing have all supported Emma through periods of stress, depression, bouts of anxiety and nervousness, helping her to quiet the mind and become more present.

 

They've helped her navigate cancer and cushion the immense grief she felt from her father's death as well as the living grief she had to work through relating to her mum's eight year journey with dementia. The simplicity, stillness and acceptance of her place within Nature helps promote clarity of mind and body and her strength and resilience is in part brought about through movement and reconnecting with the wild foods.

​

But it's not just Emma's personal experience which indefatigably proves Nature to be a great catalyst for healing. Extensive research exists proving Nature's health and wellbeing benefits.

​

In 2013 the mental health charity MIND released Feel Better Outside, Feel Better Inside a report demonstrating the benefits of Ecotherapy in helping improve mental health and wellbeing. MIND  invite their members outdoors to get active with projects like gardening and conservation.

​

Ecotherapy has 'proven to improve mental health, boost self esteem, help people with mental health problems return to work, improve physical health, and reduce isolation.'

​

The charity also found from a survey completed by GP's working across England and Wales that 'over half agreed that Ecotherapy is a valid and suitable treatment for anxiety (52%) and depression (51%)'.

​

In 2016 the Government agency Natural England commissioned a report A review of nature-based interventions for mental health care which highlighted,

​

' There is increasing recognition of the importance of nature and place as a determinant of individuals’ mental health.'

​

Satori's philosophy lines up with these continually emerging beliefs being explored by central Government. An example from the Work & Pensions Department is a report they commissioned with Cardiff & Huddersfield University which states that:

​

'Treating people holistically means that health professionals need to go beyond just curing the biomedical causes of disease to thinking about the social and psychological aspects of how patients are treated'

​

Offerings at Satori are embedded on Ecotherapy and Green Gym principles. Ecotherapy presents people with the opportunity to reconnect with the healing power of our natural environment whilst undertaking land based tasks and crafts. Through these  Nature based activities guests and volunteers can share stories with others, reflect, listen and learn about Nature and create. Wellbeing of body and mind can occur as we move, achieve goals and become more present.

​

The Green Gym was originally developed in 1997. It typically aims to offer people a way to enhance their fitness and health while helping support and sustain the outdoor environment. It is one alternative to attending a conventional gym or sports centre. Guests and volunteers get involved with all sorts of land based tasks such as clearing vegetation, building gates, planting, collecting firewood etc.

​

​