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MANDALACENTER FOR SPIRITUALITY & HEALING the GROWTHissue

Spring 2014

The healing powerof nature

Hatha Yoga Teacher

Training Program Offers

Opportunities for Growth

INSIDE:

Wellbeing in Action:

The Waters Senior Living

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I love this quote from

the American writer

John Gardner. He

goes on to say that you

build meaning out of

your past, out of your

affections and loyalties,

out of your own talent

and understanding, out of the things you

believe in, out of the things and people you

love, and out of the values for which you arewilling to sacrifice something.

I am often asked the question what draws

people to the Center and holds the Center

together. It is not an altogether easy question

to answer. When the Center began almost 20

years ago, we anticipated that we would draw

students in the health sciences to our courses

and programs. That certainly happened! What

we didnt anticipate was that students from

literally every school and college on campus

would enroll in our academic courses, and that

our faculty would grow to represent the rich

diversity for which the University of Minnesota

is known.

While health science students take courses that

will expand their knowledge base and skills

so that they can be more effective health care

providers and healers, we have law students

interested in integrating mindfulness intotheir practices or focusing on contemplative

law. Music students interested in learning

how to better manage stress and performance

anxiety also take our courses along with

horticulture students exploring horticulture

therapy, and business students wanting to learn

applications of mindfulness in leadership. As

you can imagine, this creates an incredible

environment for learning and discovery.

For many of the students and faculty, theirrelationship with the Center is a core strategy

for building meaning into their life. Their

Center work fuels their passions and is aligned

with their deepest values.

The University is embarking on a bold, new

strategic plan that will focus on solving great

challenges the global issues that the world

faces today. In parallel with this effort, the

Center has begun its next cycle of strategic

planning. We are in the process of asking the

hard questions what are the compelling

issues and opportunities within our scope of

influence, and how do we grow and leverage

the assets of the Center to meet those needs.

We know that partnerships within the

University and the community will be key to

our success as will philanthropic support. We

are curious about what is on your mind and

what you see as the trends and issues that we

should be noticing. We are very open to any

feedback or suggestions that you might have.

Feel free to email me at kreit003@umn.edu.

I recently met with a PhD student from abroad

who came to the University of Minnesota topursue a degree in a field that she thought

would be her focus for decades to come.

While she is in the final stages of finishing

that degree, she is also completing a graduate

certificate in integrative therapies and healing

practices. When she returns to her country

of origin, she has an entirely new vision and

plan of what she will be doing in her career as

a result of the time she spent at the Center for

Spirituality & Healing. She asked to meet withme so that she could explain how she came to

the University of Minnesota to pursue a degree

and is leaving with so much more. Hearing

stories like that are inspirational and remind

us of the privilege we have in doing the work of

the Center for Spirituality & Healing.

Yours in wellbeing,

Mary Jo Kreitzer, PhD, RN, FAAN

Founder and Director, Center for

Spirituality & Healing

Meaning is not something you stumble across, like the answer to a riddle or

the prize in a treasure hunt. Meaning is something you build into your life.

- John Gardner

2CENTER FOR SPIRITUALITY & HEALING

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MA

NDALA

Table of CONTENTS

Nature, Spirituality, and Healing: Page 4

How Nature Benefits Your Wellbeing

Wellbeing in Action: Page 6

The Waters Senior Living

Music Therapy Study Page 10

Offers Harmonious Growth Opportunities

Folk Medicine: Page 12

Doctors Must Understand It, And More

Craig Blacklock

Re-potting Our Lives

My Life as a Rams-Head Ladys-Slipper Page 14

A Forest of Wellbeing: Page 16

How the Center has Blossomed from Simple Seeds

Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program Page 18

Empowers Students, Fosters Personal and

Professional growth

Center Academic Offerings Page 19

for Summer and Fall

COVER ARTWORKcourtesy of Center Senior Fellow Craig Blacklock. Mr. Blacklock,a renowned photographer, collaborates with the Center on our Wellscapes videoseries. For more information about Wellscapes, please visit http://z.umn.edu/wellscapes or to learn more about Craig Blacklock, visit www.blacklockgallery.com

AUTHORS: Craig Blacklock, Matt DePoint, Annie Heiderscheit, Jean Larson,Dianne Lev, Andrea Uptmor

PHOTOGRAPHY:Paul Brady, Craig Blacklock, Kit Breshears, Token Media,courtesy of The Waters Senior Living

DESIGN: Jo Penfield

Mandala, a biannual publication, is produced by the University of MinnesotasCenter for Spirituality & Healing. Detailed information about Center research,events, academic courses, workshops, and more can be found on our website

at csh.umn.edu. Letters to the editor must include name, address, telephonenumber, and email address.

EDITOR: Kit Breshearscbreshea@umn.edu

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS:Pamela CherryThomas OlsonAndrea Uptmor

Center for Spirituality & HealingMayo Memorial Building, MMC #505420 Delaware St. S.E.Minneapolis, MN 55455

www.csh.umn.edu

3 SPRING 2014 MANDALA

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4CENTER FOR SPIRITUALITY & HEALING

Hospitalpatientsrecoverfaster whenthey can viewnature.

Working with plants can

improve concentration,

encourage relaxation, andimprove self-esteem. Digging

in rich, black soil just feels

good. But why?

There is a depth of mystery in

the natural world. The emerging

field called Nature-Based Therapeutics

which includes, but isnt limited to

therapeutic horticulture, horticultural therapy,

restorative environments, therapeutic landscapes,

and healing gardens invites us into natures

mystery.

This distinctive connection between humans

and other living systems called biophilia by

Edward O. Wilson offers a glimpse of something

extraordinary, a journey into the realm of the sacred.

I often hear from clients, students, staff, and others

about the experience of something deeply spiritual

when immersed in nature and all of its beauty.

Some experience an awareness of how limited

our grasp of nature is when taken in all its vast

complexity. These moments are at the heart of the

Nature-Based Therapeutic experience what Ive

come to know over the years as the inexplicable

transformational power of spirituality and healing

when partnering with nature.

As a therapist, one of my primary goals is to bring

people into the significant or sacred on a daily basis.

It is astonishing to witness the healing power ofnature. Experiences in nature help people embrace

their journey of self-discovery. Nature can open

the door to our innate intelligence, awaken the

sacred within, and help us to see that everything

is connected with a shared purpose, rhythm, and

balance.

HOW ELSE CAN NATURE AFFECT

WELLBEING?

Reduced stress enhanced immune function

While physiologic indicators of stress can

decrease after exposure to nature, indicators

of immune response can increase, according to

research reported in 2011 (International Journal ofImmunopathology and Pharmacology). Subjects

who visited a forested area were found to have

enhanced activity of their natural killer (NK) cells.

These cells provide a rapid response to cells

infected with a virus and also attack tumor cells.

In addition, the same individuals had higher

levels of anticancer proteins within their

NK cells.

Improved cognitionResearch has shown that cognitive

benefits gained by working with

plants include improvements

in concentration, ability to

remember, and ability to pay

attention. Additionally,

research reported

in the Journal of

Advanced

Nursing

(2010) suggests

that working with

plants may also ameliorate clinical

depression. After participating in a 12-week program

of therapeutic horticulture, 50 percent of depressed

patients studied showed a clinically relevant decline

in their scores on a depression-measuring test.

This reduction in depression continued to be in

effect when measured three months after the

program ended.

Multiple studies have found that cognitive

malfunctioning in children diagnosed with attention

deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) improves

upon exposure to nature, reported Biopsychosocial

Medicine in 2012. One study found that performance

on concentration-requiring tasks was higher afterthe children tested had spent time in a natural,

wooded area, compared to a built, urban area.

Another study suggested that children with

ADHD showed milder symptoms when engaged

in activities in an outdoor environment than

when engaged in the same activities in an indoor,

windowless play area.

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MortalityNot only can interacting with the natural

environment reduce stress and improve both

immune and cognitive functioning, it may also help

counter health inequalities associated with lower

socioeconomic status (Biopsychosocial Medicine

2012). That was the conclusion of researchers who

found that people who had low income but highlevels of residential green space had mortality rates

comparable to people of higher socioeconomic

status. In contrast, people who had low

income but little residential green

space had higher mortality

rates than their wealthier

counterparts.

ApplicationsThe idea that exposure

to nature can heal

has given rise to such

adjunctive therapies

as therapeutic

horticulture and

therapeutic landscape

design. Therapeutic

landscape design has

been shown to produce

measurable, positive

health effects.

Therapeutic horticulture uses

plants and plant-related activities

to promote health and wellbeing.

Gardening provides an opportunity to create

and control the environment. This sense of control

creates a sense of empowerment and self-esteem,

which aids healing. Gardening also affords a sense of

purpose and achievement, which can support people

dealing with depression or other mental health

concerns.

The risk of developing a mental health disorder may

actually increase as someone spends more time in

front of a screen (Developmental Psychology 2008,

Journal of Environmental Psychology 2009). Time

spent in nature, thus, can mediate against such

health problems, both by getting someone away

from sitting in front of a screen and by inducing

calming, nature-related physiologic effects.

INCREASE YOUR WELLBEING THROUGH

NATURE:

1. Take nature breaks. Look out into nature and allow

your mind to relax. You likely will feel refreshed

and be ready for the next task with a renewed

sense of energy. If at all possible, get outdoors!

2. If you cannot get outside, purchase the CentersWellscapes app for your smartphone and relax

to healing images of nature. This can be a way

for people with allergies to plants or soil access

natures benefits.

3. Bring nature into your office or home by hanging

a nature picture, installing one as the wallpaper on

your computer screen, or by bringing in a plant.

4. Head outside the lights of the city and gaze into

the night sky to feel connected to the rest of the

universe.

5. Use greenery to create a table arrangement to lift

your spirits.

6. Visit a local conservatory or head out to the

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

5 SPRING 2014 MANDALA

Jean Larson, PhD, CTRS, HTR, manages the University of Minnesotas Nature-Based Therapeutics

Program, a shared initiative with the Center for Spirituality & Healing and the Minnesota Landscape

Arboretum established to further the understanding of how nature heals.

Expand your knowledge and learn about natures healing power.

Upcoming Nature-Based Therapeutics courses include:

Summer: CSPH 5000-002 (3 credits) Journey Into Nature: Wellbeing and Leadership, a Travel Course

to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area | CSPH 5523 (2 credits) Applications in Therapeutic Horticulture

Fall: CSPH 5000-001 (3 credits) Horse as Teacher | CSPH 5522 (3 credits) Gardens for Health and

Wellbeing: An introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture

Tanya Bailey, faculty specializing in animal-assisted interaction,

and Woodstock the therapy chicken explain how animals can be

included in the healing process. Animal-assisted interaction is

part of the Nature-Based Therapeutics program.

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