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Art, activity and health

Editor: Weathering the physical and psychic storms of the next few months on the Sunshine Coast are surely going to test our mettle. I felt more reassured about this after reading Hugh Macaulay’s column, “The healing power of art,” in the Sept.

Editor:

Weathering the physical and psychic storms of the next few months on the Sunshine Coast are surely going to test our mettle. I felt more reassured about this after reading Hugh Macaulay’s column, “The healing power of art,” in the Sept. 18 paper, in which he traversed some really interesting insights between art and neuroscience. Evidently, finding an artistic outlet, no matter your choice, has never been more importantly therapeutic. 

I know of one additional neurological benefit to those Macaulay listed, and that is the links shown between an increased size in the brain’s hippocampus and the activity of imagining or visualizing. At a time when the ability of many people to envision overcoming challenging situations is hampered by higher stress levels, intentional imagining is likewise a therapeutic activity. 

While on the subject of activity and health, I’d like to acknowledge the people who have stepped up to help steward our local trails. Since last winter, my wife and I (and our dog) have perambulated almost every trail on the Coast from Langdale to Lund and this has helped keep our bodies fit and our minds clear. This isn’t wishful thinking or half-baked flummery; increasingly, mainstream science is recognizing real health benefits to spending time in nature, and especially walking forest trails.

With this in mind, I urge local officials to recognize the vital health effects of local trails and tally them as natural assets, as important as rec centres, ball parks and ice rinks. Easier and cheaper to maintain, too.

Michael Maser, Gibsons