A breath Of Fresh Air
Diving Into Nature
By: Natasha Dixon
How do sports connect you to nature? As a child and throughout my adult life sports have always been one of my biggest hobbies and favourite pastimes. Most of the sports I play involve being outside which has helped me stay connected to nature. During the summer I enjoy play softball, tennis, badminton, basketball, golf, frisbee, fishing and football. Each of these sports can be played outside in a large open area. One of my favourite things to do is walk to a nearby field and practice these sports. It gives me the opportunity to enjoy the walk to the field and being out in nature. During high school I was on almost every sports team where we would travel to different schools to play against other teams. I remember on multiple occasions we would be playing soccer as it poured rain or when the temperature was cold. I remember most of the people on our team just being excited to play regardless of the weather. It changed the dynamics of the game depending on the weather conditions. We were used to being outside in different conditions so it usually worked out in our favor as we were comfortable and ready to play. This was a very fun experience for us as a team. I remember finishing the game being soaked and covered in mud. We would all just laugh change our clothes and be ready for the bus ride home. This shows that sports helped us spend time in nature and also helped us build our social skills. We were working as a team and having fun while trying not to slip and fall into a large puddle. What a great way to feel connected to nature. Sports has also acted as an outlet for me to get some exercise and focus my time and energy on something. I have notice that when I am able to focus my energy on sports I am more calm and able to focus on tasks I need to get done. Getting outside and playing sports is a great way to be in nature while being active and having fun. I think it is important for adults and children to recognize the important of physical activity and how it can influence your mental health and physical level. While playing sports there have been multiple opportunities where I have seen different animals walking around. I have seen a fox run by during a baseball game, a snake slither across the badminton court and a squirrel scurry past the basketball net. Each of these scenarios further proves how sports can connect you to nature and the animals in nature. Useful Articles https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/sports-and-mental-health/ According to the Newport Academy (2018), getting exercise can have a positive impact on mental health. Getting exercise can improve your mood, reduce stress, and releases endorphins (Newport Academy, 2018). Overall the physical activity can greatly impact your life. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2014/10/21/10-ways-to-get-your-kids-out-in-nature-and-why-it-matters/?utm_term=.2b09a72406d2 The Washington post includes playing sports as a way to get children out into nature. This is a great way to encourage children to be in nature as they participate in an activity that interests them. While playing sports you are surrounded by sounds of nature, grass, trees, and animals that may be around. About the Photos The first photo is an old picture of me and my family playing badminton outside in the backyard. We had a beautiful view as the sun was setting while we were playing. We were also surrounded by trees. It was a calm night so you could hear the sounds of nature as we played. The next photo is me outside playing baseball with my team. We would be outside for hours at a time playing the game. The third picture is me fishing as the cottage. This is one of my favourite and most peaceful places. You can hear the sounds of the water and get away from the busy city. I never usually catch any fish but it is a very relaxing and enjoyable time.
1 Comment
Izabel Esnard
9/20/2018 11:29:08 am
Sports is also a great way to support positive mental health and participating in sports in outdoor environments does provide important exposure to outdoor weather conditions and opportunities for risk taking to enhance physical skills such as balance and coordination. I have never thought about how one's interest in sports can be so influential on their connection to nature which made me enjoy your insights while reading your blog post.
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Natasha DixonThis blog is dedicated to diving into nature in every way, shape and form. I want to truly enjoy my time in Nature and further explore different aspects of nature. |