What we’re about
Connection Walks is a group for those interested in increasing their mental and physical wellbeing. Walks are held in accessible locations in and around Melbourne's North East, East and South East. The walks are generally around 4km in length, take 2 to 3 hours to complete and are structured to facilitate natural connections. The majority of the walks are not physically demanding for most people and no prior experience is required. What is needed is a curious mind and a willingness to connect mindfully with nature and with others. A small fee is payable to help cover Meetup and payment processing fees.
Humans have spent 99.9% of their existence living with nature. Research is showing just how beneficial reconnecting with nature can be to calm our busy minds and exercise our bodies. But as human beings we also need meaningful connection with others to maintain our mental health.
Nature invites us to pay attention to the present moment. Encouraging us to focus on our immediate experience of what we can see, hear, smell, touch and taste rather than getting caught up in our thoughts and emotions. Paying attention to what's going on around us in this way has been shown to be an effective way to help reduce stress, depression and anxiety.
Spending time in nature has been shown to boost our immune system, reduce blood pressure, reduce mental fatigue, increase positive feelings and reduce anger. Studies show exposure to sunlight improves our mood, reduces depression and help make us more active and alert.
Connection with others improves physical health and mental and emotional well-being. One landmark study showed that lack of connection with others is a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure. People who feel more connected to others have lower levels of anxiety and depression. Moreover, studies show they also have higher self-esteem, greater empathy for others, are more trusting and cooperative and, as a consequence, others are more open to trusting and cooperating with them.
Going on a Connection Walk combines all these benefits along with some gentle exercise and an opportunity for a social chat at the end of each walk.