Today's busy lives can have a significant impact on our mental and physical well being. If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle for a while, why not have a go at our Slow Adventure Escape?
As its name indicates, this unique experience will provide you with an escape from work & life in our technological world and give you a chance to slow down and re-connect with the simple pleasures of life.
For a whole afternoon, switch off, glide through the unspoilt waters of Lough Macnean on your canoe and discover the world of “shinrin-yoku” or Forest Bathing…
What exactly is Forest Bathing?
The term shinrin-yoku which emerged in Japan in the 1980s means “forest bathing” or “taking in the forest atmosphere”. This is not exercise, or hiking, or jogging. It is simply being in nature, connecting through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch and thus bridging the gap between us and the natural world.
The Japanese quickly embraced this form of eco therapy. In the 1990s, researchers began studying the physiological benefits of forest bathing. The results showed that a couple of hours of mindful exploration in a forest could reduce blood pressure, lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels and improve concentration and memory. They also found that trees releases chemicals called phytoncides, which have an anti-microbial effect on human bodies, boosting the immune system.
So...Spending mindful time in the woods is beneficial for body and soul.
At Corralea Activity Centre, we have created a unique combination of gentle exercise and true Forest Bathing relaxation: Our Slow Adventure Escape.
Make your own adventure: go island hopping with your canoe, discover the secrets of Port Island or spot the remains of Crannogs: these lake dwellings or farmsteads , some dating from the Bronze Age, built away from the land to deter cattle raiding. Glide through the pristine and unpolluted waters of Lough Macnean. Enjoy the wealth of wildlife all along the Lough shores and try to spot an otter or a heron. Get that perfect Instagram picture on our Lough Swing, the only one in Ireland!
Then return to shore to enjoy 1 hour ½ of pure bliss in our Wild Eden Hot Tub. It is situated in the middle of the forest under the Scots Pines: relax and enjoy the shades of green and blue, look up at the sky through the patterns of branches, listen to the birds singing and the breeze rustling in the trees, take your time and let the forest in.
The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air — these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us.
Wild Eden Hot Tub
We have really enjoyed preparing Wild Eden Hot Tub for our Slow Adventure Escape experience.
It has been a family project… although Marius & Brian did most of the hard labouring work.
Once you leave the concrete path, you are lead through an Arch in the wilds of the forest. Follow the gravel path, a little gate will bring you to your corner of heaven for a few hours….The setting is rustic, no trees were cut, a few bushes were cleared to make space for the hot tub but the site has broadly remained untouched. Big flags, sourced locally, create a path into the lake, so you can alternate Hot Tub relaxation with wild swimming in the lake. They were carried one by one and floated on a canoe so as not to disturb the site.
Here you are away from people and noise… connect with nature, enjoy this new state of mind that brings happiness.
Isabelle
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