Have you ever wondered why being outside feels so soothing – or why yoga or Reiki somehow feel different under the trees?
Nature offers something no room ever can – a living, breathing nervous system balm. When we step outside and reconnect with breath, body, and the earth beneath our feet, something begins to shift. We soften. We exhale. We remember ourselves.
On their own, yoga, Reiki and time in nature each support deep rest and reconnection. Together, they gently guide us back to presence, balance and belonging.
A Shift in the Nervous System
Whether it’s lying on a forest floor during Reiki, or moving slowly through yoga in the dappled morning light, these practices help activate your parasympathetic nervous system – your body’s rest-and-digest mode.
This shift:
- Lowers heart rate, blood pressure and cortisol
- Improves heart rate variability (HRV), a sign of nervous system resilience
- Stimulates vagal tone – supporting calm, clarity, and emotional ease
These changes are subtle but powerful. You might feel it as a quieting of the mind, a softening of the chest, or a deep sigh that seems to come from somewhere older than words.
Yoga: Returning to Yourself
Yoga, when practised with gentleness and curiosity (not performance), is a beautiful way to reconnect with yourself.
It brings awareness into the body and back to the breath – easing mental chatter, unravelling tension, and helping you notice what you truly need. This is known as interoception, and it’s key to emotional balance and resilience.
Yoga also supports your biochemistry – increasing calming neurotransmitters like GABA, which are linked to reduced anxiety and improved mood.
In the woods, this process deepens. Your breath feels slower. The earth feels steadier. And the trees seem to hold whatever you’re ready to lay down.
Nature: A Deep Remembering
At the root of it all is biophilia – our innate human instinct to connect with the natural world.
We evolved in wild landscapes, and part of us still recognises birdsong, green leaves, and open skies as home. Even just a few minutes outdoors can help soften stress and reawaken a sense of calm.
Time in nature has been shown to:
- Lower cortisol, heart rate and blood pressure
- Improve focus, sleep and emotional wellbeing
- Boost immune function through phytoncides – natural, calming compounds released by trees
Nature doesn’t ask us to be any particular way – she simply invites us to come as we are. To breathe, to be still, and to remember we’re already whole.
Step Into the Woods With Me
If you’re craving slowness, stillness or a space to reconnect – I’d love to welcome you to Yoga and Reiki in the Woods.
Sessions take place in Otley Chevin Forest and are open to anyone seeking a gentler rhythm. You don’t need to be flexible, spiritual, or experienced – just willing to pause, and breathe, and be.
You can find more at alicefaulkner.com or follow along on Instagram @alicefaulkneryoga.