“We are not separate from this Earth; we are a part of it, whether we fully feel it in our bodies yet or not.”
Sharon Blackie
So what is Túas Núdár?
Túas Núdár is Gaelic Irish for Journeys (with) Nature. It was coined by Clare Donegan in August 2021. Túas Núdár is a journey, a nature immersion and can take place in a range of settings and situations. The practise has several influences mainly Clare’s Irish Celtic heritage, the Japanese practise of Forest bathing and Mindfulness Based Approaches. Clare has spent almost two decades working and practising within both the creative and contemplative art forms. Túas Núdár is an accumulation of her work to date and she is delighted to bring this practise into the light at this time.
TN is the practise of slowing down amidst nature, whilst engaging all the senses, this is done through a series of simple yet profound invitations. It is a mindfulness practise in nature, both our inner and outer natures. However it also stimulates the imaginal sense, inviting the participant to journey into liminal space should one wish to do so.
During a walk you will discover gentle and engaging ways to connect with nature and yourself.
Going to nature, the wild, for healing is not new. Our ancestors kept rituals and regular practises that ensured a sustained partnership with nature.
We seem to have lost that.
Túas Núdár is a way to regain our connection with nature/ the more-than-human- world; our home. It is also a way to sustain a deeply peaceful and restorative connection with ourselves.
Globally we are experiencing exponentially high levels of stress related illnesses amidst our working populations, this may well be a very viable solution.
Enter Túas Núdár.
The benefits of spending time in this way are plentiful, they include:
- provides a gateway to deep relaxation
- provides a boost to the immune system: natural killer cells of (NK) cell responsible for keeping the body tumour free are enhanced after a forest bath
- people report greater mental clarity and research shows a reduction in low level anxiety and depression
- recent data indicates that forest bathing decreases cardiovascular illness
See below for research papers and further reading.
So what happens on a Túas Núdár walk?
We will walk slowly, covering only a short trail. This is not a hike!
Clare will offer a series of invitations that form part of a sequence.
You will have the opportunity to explore the woodland, forest or wherever you are in a way that you may not have done since childhood.
We often find when we slow down and drop out of our chattering minds, we find a way of being that can feel more alive, peaceful and authentic.
Due to the current pandemic we are also offering Virtual Túas Núdár.
Virtual Túas Nádúr? …how does that work?
We know, it seems a little counterintuitive. Isn’t the whole practice of forest bathing rooted in a technology detox? How could a Zoom nature immersive experience possibly work?
The practise will follow the same sequence as a live in person walk, with a few tweaks to accommodate you if you are inside.
- Awaken and engage with your senses whilst connecting to your surrounding environment
- Reduce stress and anxiety while getting to know the land where you live in a new way
- These experiences offer a unique experience of human and nature connection, as you join with others from around the world who are exploring their surrounding environment alongside you
Currently available on request
References
Effect of forest bathing trips on immune system (Environmental Health and Preventative Medicine, 2010)
Urban Nature Experiences Reduce Stress in the Context of Daily Life Based on Salivary Biomarkers (Frontiers in Psychology, 2014)
Exploring the mental health benefits of natural environments (Frontiers in Psychology, 2014)
A Review of the Benefits of Nature Experiences: More Than Meets the Eye (Int. Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2017)
Effect of phytoncide from trees on human natural killer cell function (Int. Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 2007)
Further Reading
International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine: List of Articles and Books
Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs: Articles and Research Archives
