Ecosomatics, Your Nervous System, and Nature: A Guest Piece from Edinburgh with Astrid Jansen

Introduction by Lynn:

I am delighted to hand over to Astrid, a trauma-informed somatic therapy Edinburgh practitioner. Astrid and I have been connecting around our shared interest in supporting people to feel better in their bodies, and when she told me about her work with ecosomatics I knew straight away that you would love it.

Ecosomatics, Nature and Nervous System Regulation By Astrid | Somatic Therapist | Holistic Aquila

Whenever I need to centre, I come back to the earth.

Through my training and practice as a Trauma-Informed Somatic Therapist, Reiki Master and Shamanic Practitioner, I have learnt many techniques over the years to support myself and my clients. One of the most simple, yet profound and consistently effective practices that continues to be my go-to is nature connection and ecosomatics.

This is one of the reasons I love Lynn's work. Nutrition offers practical ways to support the body and regulate the nervous system, using the beautiful bounty of nature to source nutrients from.

Similarly, ecosomatics offers a gentle way to support the nervous system through our relationship with the natural world around us. Lynn and I are approaching wellbeing from our different specialisms, with Lynn being a nutritional therapist and myself being a somatic therapist, but the same understanding underpins our work: our bodies have more opportunity for repair and restoration when they feel connected, supported and safe.

What is ecosomatics?

Ecosomatics is a body-based approach to healing that explores the relationship between our nervous system, our body, and the natural world around us. Put simply, it is a practice of reconnecting with nature, which helps us reconnect to our bodies.

The word combines "eco" (environment or ecology) and "somatics" (the experience of the body). Ecosomatics sees human bodies as being inherently part of nature, not separate from it. It also recognises that our wellbeing is impacted by our environment.

In modern life, many of us spend large amounts of time indoors, in front of screens, moving through our days with a sense of urgency and stress. This can disconnect us from our bodies, from our environment, and even from the natural rhythms of the seasons.

Ecosomatics is an invitation to nurture our relationship with the earth, with nature, and with our bodies. It is a way to reconnect.

How nature supports the nervous system

Research increasingly shows that spending time in nature can positively support nervous system regulation, stress reduction and overall wellbeing.

Nature connection might look like:

• Feeling sunlight on your skin

• Listening to birdsong or rain

• Watching trees move in the wind

• Sitting near water

• Noticing colours, textures and scents in nature

• Feeling grass beneath your feet

  
  

These small sensory moments can help the nervous system gently orient to the present moment. Feeling the warmth of sunlight, listening to birdsong, or noticing the movement of trees can support grounding and sensory regulation by giving the body steady things to connect with that can signal safety to the nervous system.

In ecosomatics, these simple moments can be understood as a form of co-regulation with our environment, where connection with the natural world helps guide the body towards calm, presence and safety.

In much the same way that nourishing foods provide signals of safety and support to the body, nature can offer sensory experiences that help us slow down, regulate and reconnect. When we bring both approaches together, we create more opportunities for the body to move out of stress and into a state where recovery and restoration can happen.

A little about Astrid

Astrid is a trauma-informed Somatic Therapist offering online Somatic Therapy sessions and integrative healing support in Edinburgh through sound baths, Reiki training, and more.

She supports people who feel overwhelmed, anxious or disconnected to come home to their body, so they can remember how to rest, honour their capacity, and move forward with more trust in themselves.

Her sessions are neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed and designed to be accessible to the many different ways bodies and minds experience the world.

If you are curious about nervous system regulation, grounding practices, or exploring a deeper connection with yourself through nature and the body, you can reach Astrid via her website: https://holisticaquila.co.uk/#contact or Instagram: @aquila.therapy

Sign off by Lynn:

If reading this has sparked any curiosity about how nutrition can support your nervous system and wellbeing, I would love to have a chat. Book your free discovery call here: https://l.bttr.to/NMWEu