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)
Nature's Therapeutic Ambience
SOLACE MISSION
To offer therapeutic setting for emotional and spiritual well-being
in the Shelter environment during this traumatic time. SOLACE
is a powerful and effective holistic tool designed to help broader perspectives, and beliefs shift and change, thereby reducing the symptoms and impacts of trauma on everyday life and relationships with self and others.
SOLACE is designed to promote relaxation and mindfulness, to
help alleviate stress and anxiety: dissolve negative and limiting
thoughts and feelings that are held in the subconscious, and
disrupt the potential negative effects of monotony, reducing
feelings of boredom, emotional fatigue, and a sense of psycho-
social isolation.
By focusing on the present moment and reconnecting with
nature and self, individuals can reduce symptoms that impact their daily lives, allowing an individual on a purposeful
journey toward inner peace.
The overall impact of this calming and restorative ambience opens a window for personal reflection, relaxation, and creativity, fostering a positive mindset to increase a sense of emotional and spiritual well-being for individuals in Shelter, day and night.
SOLACE
Nature's Therapeutic Ambience may be particularly
beneficial in the followibg applications:
- in practising meditation and mindfulness.
- to help alleviate stress and anxiety.
- to cope with the effects of psychosocial isolation.
- with symptoms of grief.
- to build a positive mindset and resilience.
- and much more!
* to be prepared and showcased in customised
configurations and length, upon requirements.
"Those who participated in the mindful therapeutic-based portion
of the pilot project, report a shift in how they felt following the use of Marek’s SOLACE iEcotherapy as a tool in mindful practice.
We endorse iEcotherapy as an effective tool with potential healing applications across a variety of healing domains”
Allan Campbell - M.A., RCC MH&A
Program Manager, Kwakiutl District Council Health
Campbell River BC
SOLACE is the culmination of many years of development
of merging art with the healing power of nature for
emotional, psychosocial and spiritual wellness by
Canadian Artist Marek Julian Zaleski.
"SOLACE"
A "Nature for Wellness" initiative by
VANCOUVER ISLAND MUSEUM OF NATURE
In Partnership with
