‘Let it Breathe’ Women’s Wellness Day
Participants of the day with Nothing Like Nature facilitator Dr Kathleen Bagot (front middle) and Fulham Yoga and Pilates instructor Michelle (second row, left).
Yarrilinks Landcare and Hindmarsh Shire Council paired up to welcome Wimmera women to the beautiful surrounds of Barangaroo Boutique Wines on Sunday Oct 19th for a day of connection and mindfulness, all in the name of promoting mental health and wellbeing in rural community. The day began with a gentle flow yoga session under the guidance of Michelle, from Fulham Yoga and Pilates Studio. Participants were encouraged to come back to the body through a flow suited to all ages and abilities for a conscious hour, and the movement and breathwork allowed participants to loosen body tension and stress and set the relaxed tone for the day.
The group were introduced to guest speaker Dr Kathleen Bagot, founder and lead guide of Nothing Like Nature. Through the understanding of a PhD in Environmental Psychology, Kathleen detailed to the group how our environments affect the way we think, feel and behave, and discussed the evidence backed benefits of nature-based activities for wellness and holistic health. The women were lead through a sensory experience to connect with nature, which included leaves, seed pods, bark and stems to continue the body connection to the outdoor environment.
Lunch was catered thanks to Barangaroo Winery and over a cheeky glass of red or white, overlooking the vineyards and scenic dam, guests were able to connect over topics of conversation facilitated to encourage discussion around mental health in rural community, particularly for women. The National Centre for Farmer Health outline the demands of women in rural communities in relation to not only raising children and families but contributing equally to employment both on and off the farm and maintaining the “mental load” of managing commitments on behalf of the farm and family. In a challenging social, economic, seasonal, and political climate, Let it Breathe offered simply a moment of pause, connection and reflection, amongst friends new and old for local women.
The day continued after lunch with a session by Dr Kathleen in Nature Journaling. Nature journaling is the practice of observation, presence and recognition of the natural world, though requires no artistic merit of scientific know how. Participants were instructed to observe and listen, quietly connecting with the environment, in what Kathleen would later describe as a much needed “nature prescription”. The women created unique art through various techniques aimed at capturing the garden, trees, birds and wind, all the while relishing in the quiet wellness that being immersed in nature offers. Let It Breathe asked rural women to take a pause and connect with their peers over a day that did not ask for anything except presence, while delivering to participants wellness tools that can be utilized easily in the business of the everyday for women, and for women to take home to their families. The day concluded with homemade biscuits and herbal tea, thanks to Kathleen, and participants left with new skills, new friends, and new invigoration for the experience, all strength to the betterment of individual, family and community health going forward.
‘Let it Breathe’ was funded with thanks to Over the Farm Gate by the Centre for Farmer Health. Thanks to Hindmarsh City Council and WCMA for their support on this event, and Barangaroo Boutique Wines for hosting us.