“Good Nature” by Kathy Willis is a scientific exploration of the health benefits of connecting with nature. The book delves into recent research that demonstrates how interacting with the natural world can have remarkable effects on our bodies and minds. Willis, a biodiversity professor at Oxford, presents compelling evidence for the positive impact of nature on human health. For example, she cites a study showing that office workers with a vase of pink roses on their desks experienced physiological relaxation within just four minutes. The book covers various aspects of nature’s influence, including:
- Visual effects: Patients recovering from surgery heal faster when they can see trees from their hospital windows.
- Olfactory benefits: The scent of roses can improve driving performance, making people calmer and less prone to accidents.
- Auditory impacts: Though not explicitly mentioned in the review, the book likely covers how natural sounds affect well-being.
- Tactile experiences: Touching organic soil has significant effects on the health of our microbiome.
Willis argues that even small increases in our exposure to nature can lead to meaningful improvements in health. She provides actionable advice for incorporating more nature into daily life, such as keeping plants in offices and homes. While the reviewer praises Willis for uncovering a fascinating and important topic, they note that the book could benefit from more engaging storytelling techniques. The review suggests that including interviews with researchers or exploring innovative urban rewilding projects could have made the content more compelling.
In her exploration of the health benefits of natural landscapes, Kathy Willis delves into why certain environments are inherently more beneficial to our well-being than others. The insights presented in her book “Good Nature,” as reviewed here, offer profound connections to the principles of feng shui, particularly in how the natural world influences our mental and physical health.
“Good Nature” is described as a book that inspires readers to make small changes in their lives to benefit from nature’s healing properties. It emphasises the importance of individual actions in reaping the health benefits of nature, even as it acknowledges the broader social and political implications of unequal access to green spaces.
The Intersection of Nature and Health
Willis’s work highlights a growing body of evidence showing that exposure to natural environments can lead to significant health improvements. For example, patients recovering from surgeries have been found to heal faster and require less pain medication when they have a view of greenery as opposed to looking out over a brick wall. This aligns closely with the feng shui principle of ensuring a balance between the built environment and natural elements, suggesting that the presence of natural landscapes or their representations in our surroundings can profoundly affect our well-being.
In feng shui, the concept of biophilia—our innate connection to nature—is central. The ancient practice underscores the importance of integrating natural elements such as plants, water, and natural light into living spaces to foster health and happiness. This approach is mirrored in Willis’s findings, which indicate that the benefits of nature extend beyond the visual, engaging all of our senses and even influencing our physiological and psychological states.
The Role of Colours and Shapes in Promoting Calmness
Willis discusses how certain natural colours—specifically green and white—are associated with calmness, a finding supported by studies in environmental psychology. This is reminiscent of feng shui’s use of colour to manipulate energy (qi) within a space, with green often representing growth, renewal, and balance, which are essential for maintaining a harmonious environment.
Furthermore, the preference for “radially symmetrical flowers,” as highlighted by a Czech study, resonates with feng shui’s emphasis on balanced and harmonious shapes. This is also evident in the practice’s use of the Bagua map, where symmetrical and balanced layouts are believed to contribute to a positive flow of energy, thereby enhancing the health and well-being of the occupants.
The Best Landscapes for Health
Willis suggests that open landscapes with scattered trees provide the most psychological and physiological benefits. Feng shui similarly advocates for spaces that offer both prospect and refuge—open areas that allow for a broad view, combined with places of shelter or protection. This configuration is thought to satisfy deep-seated evolutionary needs, offering both safety and opportunities for relaxation and contemplation.
Maximising the Benefits of Nature
One of the key takeaways from Willis’s research is the recommendation to spend at least 120 minutes per week in nature to maximise its health benefits. This idea parallels the feng shui principle of regularly engaging with natural elements, whether through physical presence in nature or by bringing natural materials and symbols into our homes and workplaces. Just as feng shui advises periodic space-cleansing rituals to maintain harmony, Willis’s findings suggest that consistent exposure to nature is necessary to sustain its benefits.
The Power of Scent and Sound
The article also touches on the importance of natural scents and sounds, noting that smells such as lavender can have calming effects, while natural sounds like birdsong can enhance cognitive performance and reduce stress. Feng shui similarly places importance on the sensory aspects of the environment. The use of natural scents is common in feng shui practices to purify spaces and promote relaxation, while the strategic placement of objects that produce soothing sounds, like gentle wind chimes, water features is believed to invite positive energy into the home.
Gardening as a Healing Practice
Gardening is highlighted as a powerful way to engage with nature, combining multiple sensory experiences that can contribute to well-being. Feng shui often recommends the cultivation of plants as a means to connect with the natural world and enhance the flow of positive energy in the environment. The act of gardening, therefore, not only beautifies the space but also serves as a form of meditation and a way to ground oneself in the present moment.
Implications for Home and Office Design
Willis’s findings have significant implications for how we design our living and working spaces. Incorporating elements that reflect the natural world, such as plants, water features, and natural materials, can improve both mental and physical health. Feng shui goes a step further by providing specific guidelines on how to position these elements to maximise their benefits, ensuring that the energy flow in a space supports health, productivity, and overall well-being.
Do the case studies include quantitative data to support their claims
Many case studies do include quantitative data to support their claims and demonstrate results. Some key points about the use of quantitative data in case studies:
- Case studies can use both qualitative and quantitative methods and data. While they tend to focus more on qualitative data, quantitative data is often included as well.
- Good case studies typically contain research and stats to back up points made about a project’s results. This provides concrete evidence of outcomes.
- Marketing case studies in particular often use quantitative data to show the value proposition and benefits of a product/service. They show “actual change within the firm through numbers and figures” rather than just qualitative statements.
- Including clear data points is highlighted as an effective way to prove value in case studies.
- Case studies can collect quantitative data through methods like questionnaires and analysis of routinely collected data.
- Using multiple sources of data, including both qualitative and quantitative, is advocated as a way to increase the internal validity of a case study.
- Some case studies may use a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
So in summary, while case studies are often more qualitative in nature, many do incorporate quantitative data and statistics to provide concrete evidence of outcomes and strengthen their claims. The use of both qualitative and quantitative data can enhance the overall validity and impact of a case study.
Key tips from this book
Here are a few practical tips discussed in Kathy Willis’s book “Good Nature”:
- Incorporate Greenery into Your Environment:
- Having plants or a view of greenery in your living or working spaces can significantly boost your mental and physical health. Even small indoor plants or pictures of nature can have calming effects and promote faster recovery from stress.
- Choose Colours That Promote Calmness:
- Opt for natural colours like green and white in your home or workspace to enhance a sense of calmness. These colours are associated with tranquillity and can help reduce stress.
- Spend Time in Nature Weekly:
- Aim to spend at least 120 minutes in nature each week to maximise the health benefits. Whether it’s a walk in the park, gardening, or simply sitting in a green space, regular exposure to nature is crucial for well-being.
- Create Open and Balanced Spaces:
- Design your home or office with an open layout that incorporates scattered natural elements like trees or plants. This not only makes the space more aesthetically pleasing but also helps create a sense of psychological and physiological balance.
- Engage Your Senses with Natural Scents and Sounds:
- Use natural scents, such as lavender, to promote relaxation in your environment. Additionally, incorporate natural sounds, like birdsong or gentle water features, to enhance cognitive performance and reduce stress.
- Practice Regular Gardening:
- If possible, engage in gardening activities. This practice combines visual beauty, scent, and touch, offering a multi-sensory experience that can greatly reduce stress and enhance your connection with nature.
By applying these tips, you can create a living and working environment that supports your health and well-being, in line with the findings of both modern research and traditional feng shui principles.
Conclusion: Kathy Willis’s “Good Nature” offers compelling evidence for the healing power of nature, much of which aligns with the principles of feng shui. By integrating these natural elements and their associated benefits into our daily lives—whether through direct interaction with the outdoors or by bringing the outdoors in—we can create environments that not only support but actively enhance our health and happiness. As feng shui teaches, our surroundings profoundly influence our state of mind and body, and by making thoughtful, nature-inspired choices in our spaces, we can foster a sense of balance, peace, and well-being that permeates every aspect of our lives.
