Limited Edition
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Nature for Wellness
“Willow Place is delighted to announce a new partnership with photographic artist and cinematographer, Marek Zaleski. Zaleski is the founder of the Vancouver Island Museum of Nature in BC, and he was inspired by the novel coronavirus pandemic to share his healing videos with non-profit groups serving vulnerable populations.
Artist understands that our residents in shelter may not be able to readily access green spaces due to personal safety issues, as related to family violence and as also impacted by current health precautions with coronavirus. The hope is for Willow Place to pilot a healing environment called an "The Earth Hours" Room in the months ahead.
To help Willow Place get started with "The Earth Hours", Zaleski is donating a number of 30 minute and 3 minute nature videos to use for staff wellness and client therapeutic support. Willow Place foresees that a dedicated "The Earth Hours" space could be used for groups, activities, expressive arts-based therapy, trauma-informed yoga, cultural programming, and staff wellness.” .
Pam Hadder - Community Coordinator Willow Place, Inc.
Woman & Children’s Family Violence Services in Winnipeg
(June 15th 2020)
iEcotherapy 2025
Eart's
Healing Hours
For
Wellness Community
Now more than ever, the world is seeing the need for healing the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual
bodies individually and collectively. Mental health
decline is unprecedented and is at a breaking
point as we are witnessing increased substance use, addictions, mental illness, abuse, domestic violence,
homelessness, imprisonment, poverty, burnout, and
suicide.
Our children are experiencing more trauma as parents
are experiencing the breakdown of the economic,
social, medical, educational, religious, and political systems. Food insecurity and inflation add pressure
into the homes of families where many are forced to
make decisions to either pay bills, medication, or
food. Environmental degradation and separation from nature impacts our health on a daily basis as our
bodies and nervous system are not equipped to live
in urban environments. This can be seen in high
rates of cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
Indigenous people are suffering far more as the intergenerational trauma from colonialism continues
to run through families and communities. Genocide of
the people, culture and traditional ways has created
a cultural landscape where they are barely surviving.
They rely heavily on substances to avoid the pain.
They experience lateral violence within their own communities as the descendants of the residential
schools, and 60’s scoop survivors were detached and emotionally, mentally, and spiritually unavailable to
raise their children
For
Wellness Community
“Those living in long term care do not have the opportunity to access nature in the same way they did earlier in their lives. Marek’s iEcotherapy is beautiful and peaceful. They help us all feel connected to the colours and sounds of the amazing world around us;
the next best thing to being there!”
- Liz Friis -
Director of Resident Lifestyle & Community Programs
Glacier View Lodge Comox Valley, BC
