Wellness means different things to different people across the globe. We’ve put together a whistle-stop tour of wellbeing from across the world - from connecting with nature in Asia to antioxidant teas in South America, there’s a multitude of ways to boost your wellbeing.
Spending time in one of Yorkshire’s many green spaces and immersing yourself in some serious trees can encourage cleaner intuition, increased flow of energy, deepening of friendships, and overall happiness.
First stop, Japan - for some eco-therapy. Shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bathing’ means embracing the forest atmosphere. Spending time in one of Yorkshire’s many green spaces and immersing yourself in some serious trees can encourage cleaner intuition, increased flow of energy, deepening of friendships, and overall happiness.
Next on the trip is India for a good old giggle. Laughing yoga is one of the latest incantations of a 5,000-year-old practice, which is said to strengthen your immune system, increase brain oxygen, and gives an improved sense of happiness. It really is the best medicine!
Leaving Asia now, we head to Iceland. The land of ice and fire is the perfect place for a natural thermal bath. The hot water improves blood circulation, relieves pain, and increases endorphins - whilst the minerals in the water have anti-ageing properties and help skin conditions.
Next, we go to South America to enjoy a tea break. Yerba mate is the national hot drink of Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina and is a thoroughly social affair. It’s full of anti-oxidants, can boost your immune system, and supposedly a healthier source of caffeine.
Our final stop is in Central and Southern Africa to learn more about ‘Ubuntu’. A philosophy rather than an activity, ‘Ubuntu’ can be translated as humanity or ‘I am because you are’. It is the belief that the individual experience is reliant on the collective experience of the people around you. It states that to uplift others is to uplift oneself, which is something that we can all do to create stronger support networks as well as building the resilience of our friends and families.
What do you do to improve your wellbeing? Tweet us at @NorthpointMH
Guest blog by Billy Gardner, who works as a Community Wellbeing Connector at Northpoint
