It’s National Wellness Month

Prescribing Nature

What if your doctor prescribed a 30 minute walk outdoors instead of prescribing a drug? It’s happening, and there’s solid science behind it.

A study among the world’s longest living people (> 100) confirmed that they all have physical activity and movement in their daily lives. Not gym workouts, marathon runs or lifting weights, but simple movement: doing their own house and yard work, maintaining a garden, walking places instead of taking a car. Moving every 20 minutes or so instead of sitting at a desk or TV. (Source: Dan Buettner, The Blue Zones)

In a society that’s increasingly technologically driven, getting moving, getting outdoors and experiencing the power of nature has a proven, positive effect on people’s health and happiness.

In Washington, D.C., Dr. Robert Zarr writes prescriptions for parks to help patients with obesity, anxiety, diabetes and depression. He developed a coordinated program with a network of 382 local parks, each mapped and evaluated on various criteria.

While his was the first “ecotherapy” program in the U.S., there are now over 150 nationwide. (Source: 2019 Global Wellness Summit)