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Writer's pictureGemma Collard-Stokes

Ecosomatic Dance and the Five Pathways to Nature Connectedness: strengthening the human-nature relationship

In a time of ecological crises and urbanization, where people are increasingly disconnected from nature, ecosomatic dance offers a powerful way to rebuild this lost connection. This form of movement practice integrates ecology and somatics, creating an embodied experience that deepens our relationship with the environment. When practised with intention, ecosomatic dance can enhance the five pathways to nature connectedness, as identified by nature psychologists, and make the human-nature relationship more robust and meaningful. What is Ecosomatic Dance? Ecosomatic dance involves moving in ways that emphasize the body's connection to the natural world. Somatics is a field of study that focuses on the body as experienced from within, combining movement awareness with mindfulness practices.


Ecosomatic dance blends this internal awareness with ecological consciousness, encouraging participants to move in harmony with their surroundings - be it in a forest, on a beach, or in a park. This practice puts quality first, inviting deep, significant moments of connection rather than brisk and passive activities we can tend towards. This is supported in a paper by Richardson et al. (2021) who emphasize the quality of nature experiences rather than the duration, finding that mindful engagement with nature, even short-term, significantly improves well-being.


Ecosomatic practice fosters an embodied awareness of the environment, allowing practitioners to not only observe nature but also participate in it. By using the body as an instrument to tune into the rhythms of the natural world, ecosomatic dance enables a deeper sense of belonging to and connection with nature. The Five Pathways to Nature Connectedness Research has shown that our connection to nature can be enhanced through five key pathways: senses, emotion, beauty, meaning, and compassion (Lumber, Richardson & Sheffield 2017). These pathways are pivotal to fostering a healthy relationship with nature, which contributes to improved mental well-being, environmental stewardship, and a sense of ecological responsibility. Let’s explore how ecosomatic dance enhances each of these pathways and find ways to explore these ideas in our bodies with exercises for beginners to this kind of practice.



1. Senses: direct interaction with nature

Senses refers to direct physical engagement with the natural world. It involves more than just being in nature; it emphasizes interacting with the elements - touching, smelling, hearing, and seeing the living world around us. Ecosomatic dance amplifies this pathway by immersing the body in the environment through movement. As practitioners explore various terrains - soft grass, uneven ground, flowing water - the body becomes an extension of the landscape. Every step, turn, or breath invites a deeper sensory experience. For example, Practitioners may experiment with movement inspired by wind patterns, animal movements, or the sensation of sunlight on their skin. This direct engagement heightens tactile awareness and fosters an embodied connection with nature. By physically connecting with nature through dance, the participant strengthens the neural pathways that link their sensory experience with the natural world, creating a more profound and lasting bond.


Try this simple sensory activity

Take a walk … allow yourself to be led by a sense that you usually don’t lead with

Follow your nose - allowing the smells in the air to forecast the path you take

Trust your ears – be led by the noises that draw your attention … welcome curiosity into your field of observation

Taste the air – lick your lips and open your mouth to inhale, notice what you taste in your mouth as you meander

Touch and connect – walk shoeless through grass, press your palm to the earth and see what sticks, lean into the trunk of a tree, jump in puddles

Don’t forget to pause on your journey, to sit, reflect, and listen, deeply to your surroundings

How does this sense influence your energy? Has your walking route revealed any new observations or information about your surroundings? How does your body feel when you actively engage your senses during your walking – what changes?

 

2. Emotion: developing emotional affinity with nature

Emotional responses to nature are crucial in deepening our connection to the environment. Nature evokes awe, joy, serenity, and wonder - all emotions that can foster a deeper connection to the natural world. Ecosomatic dance, by its very nature, invites emotional expression through movement. As participants move in nature, they are encouraged to tune into their feelings and express them physically. Whether it's the joy of dancing beneath trees or the calm that comes from synchronizing breath with the rhythm of waves, this practice creates space for an emotional connection to nature. The freeform and improvisational aspects of the dance provide a canvas for expressing a wide range of emotions, helping practitioners develop a personal, emotional relationship with their surroundings. This deep emotional connection helps participants feel more attuned to the living systems around them, fostering a sense of belonging and care for nature.


Try this simple emotion attunement activity

Wind breathing is perfect for de-stressing and calming

Inhale through the nose for 4 counts, imagining it’s a slightly windy day

As you inhale sway the body from side to side making sure you inhale fully to fill and expand the lungs

Continue your sway as you exhale for 6-8 counts or until you empty your lungs of air

As you exhale gently slow your sways

Repeat several times allowing your confidence to grow with each sway and your calmness to wash over you as the exercise progresses.


3. Beauty: recognizing the aesthetic qualities of nature

Nature's beauty has a profound impact on our sense of connectedness to the environment. From the intricacies of a leaf to the grandeur of a mountain range, beauty draws us closer to nature. In ecosomatic dance, beauty is not just seen; it is felt and embodied. Practitioners are encouraged to notice and mirror the beauty in their surroundings. This could mean flowing with the grace of wind-swept trees or adopting the slow, deliberate movements of water. The aesthetic qualities of nature are not only observed but also integrated into the practitioner's movements. By moving in ways that reflect the elegance of the natural world, practitioners cultivate a greater appreciation for its beauty. This act of co-creation between the practitioner and the environment allows for a richer, more embodied experience of nature’s aesthetic qualities, reinforcing the connection to nature through beauty.


Try this simple aesthetic activity

Noticing the delicate features of a leaf’s venation (veins), imagine the intricate network of veins or nerves within the human body

With the graceful network held in your mind’s eye, find ways to mimic the gentle reaching and branching out patterns of these traces with your body

Rippling arms, spreading out the shoulder blades, flicking the feet as you swing your legs freely

Try to maintain a tender, gracefulness to your actions.



4. Meaning: discovering personal and ecological meaning

The pathway of meaning is about finding personal significance and a deeper sense of purpose in nature. It involves understanding our place in the ecosystem and recognizing the interdependence between human and natural systems. Ecosomatic dance encourages participants to reflect on their relationship with nature through movement. As practitioners move in response to the environment, they begin to see themselves as part of a larger ecological whole. This practice invites questions like: How does my movement affect the environment? How do I mirror the rhythms and cycles of nature in my body? Through this reflective process, practitioners can find personal and ecological meaning in their movements. They become aware of the interconnectedness of all living things, which deepens their understanding of their role within the ecosystem. This newfound awareness fosters a more meaningful relationship with nature, one that is rooted in a sense of reciprocity and stewardship.


Try this simple meaning activity

With your back against the trunk of a tree, press yourself into the bark … feeling its steadfastness

Consider times in your life where you have been steadfast or needed steadfastness in your life

What rooted you then?

What roots this tree now and what can you learn from this sense of rootedness?

Playfully push against the tree begin to feel what happens in your body when you put it under tension and what happens as you release that tension and find ease in your body once again.

Play with the difference between push and relaxation as you explore this duet between you and the tree.


5. Compassion: caring for nature and all living beings

Compassion involves recognizing the needs of nature and taking action to care for it. It is not enough to connect with nature; true connection leads to a desire to protect and nurture the environment. Ecosomatic dance nurtures compassion by fostering empathy with the natural world. As practitioners embody the movements of animals, plants, or natural elements, they begin to develop a sense of kinship with other living beings. This empathetic connection can lead to a deeper understanding of the struggles and needs of nature, inspiring a sense of responsibility to protect it. For example, by moving in response to the patterns of a river or the behaviour of animals, practitioners may begin to feel the weight of environmental degradation more personally. This embodied understanding can inspire action - whether that is through conservation efforts, sustainable living, or advocacy for environmental protection. This is supported by Barragan-Jason et al (2021), through their meta-analysis which illustrates how crucial human-nature connectedness is as a critical pathway toward sustainability, reinforcing the importance of fostering this connection to achieve global environmental goals.

 

Try this simple compassion activity

Simply changing our relationship with the ground can help us develop kinship with other living beings

In worm mode, wriggle through dry leaves on the woodland floor on your belly

In vole mode, use your hands and feet to steer you through long grasses

In squirrel mode, hang from a tree branch or dart from hiding place to hiding place

Imagine life as a bat by laying back on the ground at night, sending your eyes skyward and listening deeply to your surroundings

What do you notice from these new positions?

How vulnerable do you feel?

How capable of protecting yourself are you?

How does your body movement change in response to these new feelings?

 

Concluding thoughts

Ecosomatic dance is a powerful tool for enhancing the five pathways to nature connectedness - senses, emotion, beauty, meaning, and compassion. By using the body as a bridge between the self and the natural world, this practice fosters a deeper, more embodied connection to nature. As participants engage physically, emotionally, and aesthetically with their surroundings, they cultivate a more profound and meaningful relationship with the environment. In a time when the human-nature relationship is increasingly fractured, ecosomatic dance offers a way to restore balance and strengthen our bond with the earth. Through the simple act of moving in harmony with nature, we can develop a deeper sense of connection, responsibility, and compassion for the natural world.

 


For more information about Nature Connectedness and the research that supports it see Richardson, M., & Bulter, C. W., (2022) The Nature Connectedness Handbook: A guide for incorporating people’s connection with nature. United Kingdom.

 


References


Barragan-Jason, G., de Mazancourt, C., Parmesan, C., Singer, M. C. & Loreau, M. (2021) Human-nature connectedness as a pathway to sustainability: A global meta-analysis. Conservation Letters, e12852.

 

Lumber R, Richardson M, Sheffield D (2017) Beyond knowing nature: Contact, emotion, compassion, meaning, and beauty are pathways to nature connection. PLoS ONE 12(5): e0177186. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177186

 

Richardson, M., Passmore, H. A., Lumber, R., Thomas, R., & Hunt, A. (2021). Moments, not minutes: The nature-wellbeing relationship. International Journal of Wellbeing, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v11i1.1267

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