Another very powerful method of calming and countering stress is meditation.

There are many forms of meditation but about 15 years ago I began working with groups to combine slow, deliberate movements with breathing rhythms and mindfulness to create a very calming and therapeutic way to create a state of calm self-awareness.
When you practise this form of meditation in a peaceful outdoor setting, such as Harmony Wood, you soon begin to feel calm and relaxed. Your blood pressure and heart rate are lowered and most people find themselves becoming more and more aware of the sound of the stream gurgling by, the breeze rippling through the leaves and the calls of birds. The beneficial effects of just switching off like this are enormous and before long you become quite expert at quietening your 'mental movies' and the inner chatter that makes so many of us feel stressed and anxious.

It is easy to learn and has the great advantage of being simple to remember in times of stress, enabling you to shortcut a lot of the pain caused by stress and depression by using a few simple 'trigger' exercises. Another great advantage of learning this simple technique in a place like Harmony Wood is that, after you've gone back to your everyday life, you will still be able to conjure up those calm, relaxed feelings, just by visualising yourself back in that spot in the woodland.

Meditation in the Woods sessions tend to take place at Harmony Wood during  the warmer months but can also be offered in a similar setting close to Dumfries.