Green hills rolling down to the Fleurieu coast, seen from the air

One of ten pillars

Natureimmersion

Our philosophy

Nurturing by nature through forest bathing, hiking, swimming and listening to the sounds of the sea.

On a retreat

What nature immersion looks like on the day

The experiences on a La maréa day that bring this pillar to life.

  1. Two women walk a track under tall gums towards the sea This is a placeholder for a forest bathing photo
    Forest bathing
  2. A bright bay of turquoise water and white surf below a grassy headland, with two walkers on the clifftop track, Fleurieu Peninsula, seen from the air
    Coastal hiking
  3. Two people walking along a pebbled beach below the cliffs, the surf beyond
    Ocean swimming
See every experience

Backed by research

The science

Our bespoke lifestyle retreats are grounded in science and inspired by years of research and hands-on practice working in evidence-based wellness and high performance sport.

What the research shows

Nature immersion
  • Forest bathing and nature immersion reduce anxiety, depression, stress, and improve physiological stress markers (cortisol, HRV). (Hansen et al., 2017; Oh et al., 2017; Antonelli et al., 2019)
  • Support mood and subjective well-being. (Shin et al., 2017; Antonelli et al., 2019)
  • Blue space exposure (coasts, oceans, rivers) improves mood, reduces stress, and enhances well-being. (White et al., 2021; Britton et al., 2020; Finlay et al., 2015)
  • Benefits strongest when immersive, multisensory, and socially or mindfully engaged. (Hunter et al., 2019; White et al., 2021)

Key references

7 sources, 7 linked to the paper.

Nature immersion

  1. Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art ReviewHansen MM, Jones R, Tocchini K, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2017
  2. Health and well-being benefits of spending time in forests: systematic reviewOh B, Lee KJ, Zaslawski C et al., Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 2017
  3. Effects of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) on levels of cortisol as a stress biomarker: a systematic review and meta-analysisAntonelli M, Barbieri G, Donelli D, International Journal of Biometeorology, 2019
  4. Associations between green/blue spaces and mental health across 18 countriesWhite MP, Elliott LR, Grellier J et al., Scientific Reports, 2021
  5. Blue care: a systematic review of blue space interventions for health and wellbeingBritton E, Kindermann G, Domegan C et al., Health Promotion International, 2020
  6. Therapeutic landscapes and wellbeing in later life: Impacts of blue and green spaces for older adultsFinlay J, Franke T, McKay H et al., Health and Place, 2015
  7. Urban Nature Experiences Reduce Stress in the Context of Daily Life Based on Salivary BiomarkersHunter MR, Gillespie BW, Chen SY, Frontiers in Psychology, 2019

Curate a day for your group

Plan your dayContact us

From chaos to calm, stress to serenity. Let the tide guide you home.