The Secret to a Peaceful Relaxation Garden
Residential Estates, Hospitals, Commercial Campuses and Medical Facilities are incorporating architectural design elements of the relaxation garden to reduce stress by incorporating features of nature in the garden. The natural environment presents stimuli that supports and encourages relaxation and social group activities.
Landscaping For Relaxation
Exercise, a sense of control; social activity and nature help reduce stress resulting in healthy outcomes.
People can interact with nature through the plethora of diverse plant types creating visual interest throughout the seasons. The architectural surroundings create a stimulating environment encouraging social conversation for visitors, clients and employees. The soothing natural sound of running water softens nearby noise by creating a relaxing environment helping to calm the spirit during a stressful day.
Landscape Planning for Positive Results
Research has been done showing the therapeutic benefits of gardens. Roger Ulrich, a professor and director of the Center for Health Systems and Design at Texas A & M University, found that viewing natural scenes or elements fosters stress recovery by evoking positive feelings, reducing negative emotions, effectively holding attention / interest, and blocking or reducing stressful thoughts. When viewing vegetation as opposed to urban scenes, test subjects exhibited lower alpha rates which are associated with being wakefully relaxed. Further research by Ulrich showed surgical patients with views of nature had shorter post-operative stays, fewer negative comments from nurses, took less pain medication and experienced fewer minor post-operative complications than those with a view of a brick wall. Although more research is necessary, results based on research thus far indicate the healing effects of natural elements such as gardens.
Medical Research Confirms The Secret
Based on recent medical research by Ulrich and others, it could be argued that any garden is a healing garden. However, for the purposes of this article, we refer to Eckerling's definition of a healing garden: "a garden in a healing setting designed to make people feel better" (Eckerling, 1996). The goal of a healing garden is to make people feel safe, less stressed, more comfortable and even invigorated.
Let us Help You with Your Next Landscaping Project
FloraTerra is a full service bay area landscaping services, located in the San Jose Bay Area. We install relaxation gardens and provide landscaping services for Estate Landscaping, Hospitals and Medical Facilities, Apartment Communities, Mixed Use Developments and Corporate Campus Properties.
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