Our Interview with Sylvie Rokab

On October 14, 2024 Sylvie Rokab will be on the CMP campus leading our staff in nature-based mindfulness and forest bathing. She will also be hosting a parent-child nature course at the grand opening of The Enchanted Forest on October 15. Read our interview with her below.

Q: You will be hosting a forest bathing experience at the opening of our Enchanted Forest. What is forest bathing and what are the benefits?

A: Forest Bathing is the loose translation of Shinrin Yoku, an ancient Japanese practice of nature immersion. The idea is to “bathe” in the atmosphere of the forest – though the practice can be done in any ecosystem. Guides offer “invitations,” which are prompts designed to help participants open their senses, quiet the busy mind, and soften the heart while relating with the beings of the land.

Studies have shown a wide range of benefits: Forest Bathing reduces the stress hormone cortisol, strengthens the immune system, and heightens cooperation and creativity.

People often experience a deep sense of well-being, belonging, and awe.

Q: You are the director/writer/producer of the documentary Love Thy Nature. In this film you explore the connection homo sapiens sapiens has to the natural world. What do you hope the audience takes away from the film?

A: Since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by nature films like those on National Geographic and

BBC, and yet wondered why those films always showed nature as something distant from us, “something out there.”

When it dawned on me that I should make the film I most yearned to watch, it was clear to me that the single most important takeaway is that we, humans, are not apart from nature, in fact, we are nature.

Our illusion of separation is at the root cause of all suffering – from the individual to social and planetary levels. By mindfully “re-membering” our connection to the natural world, we can reach our extraordinary potential of a profoundly wise, peaceful, and compassionate species.

Q: What was your ‘AHA’ moment that inspired you to create this film?

A: When I was 19 years old, I escaped the Brazilian “Carnaval” and immersed myself in nature by visiting “Mauá”, a place at the heart of the Atlantic rainforest. I arrived filled with teenage angst and was also distressed with the (already then!) burning Brazil’s beloved rainforests, including the Amazon. I sat on a hill for a couple of hours and my senses came alive: I could hear a symphony of streams and waterfalls, the fragrance of moist soil caressed my nostrils, and the sights of towering trees against the blue sky. These sensorial experiences shifted me from my angst and distress to a place of pure bliss, wonder, and magic.

I had two “ahas” that day: One is that nature is pure medicine. And the second was that – if people loved nature as much as I did, we wouldn’t – as a civilization – ravage it as we do. It became clear to me that somehow, someday, I would create a project to inspire others to fall in love with nature. Love Thy Nature is my homage to the sacredness of our natural world.

Q: How are nature and mental health connected?

A: In the same way that we cannot separate ourselves physically from nature – our in-breath is the out-breath of trees, plants, and plankton, our bodies are 60 to 70% water, and the food we eat comes from the land – our brains are wired to be connected with nature.

Studies have shown that connecting with nature reduces anxiety, lowers rumination, prevents depression, enhances creativity, promotes cooperation, and even makes us happier.

At Stanford University, Gregory Bratman and his colleagues found that a group of people who walked through a green lush park were more attentive and happier afterward compared to another group of people who walked for the same amount of time through busy streets.

Q: Love Thy Nature touches on the idea of Biophilia and Biomimicry. Could you explain and expand what these terms mean?

A: Biophilia means “love of life” (Bio = life and philia = love or affinity). Biophilia is our innate desire to associate with nature. From an evolutionary standpoint, in order for us to find food to eat, water to bathe and hydrate, Mother Nature wired us to be lured by lush natural environments.

There is a reason why auto ads often show vehicles cruising through gorgeous forests or seaside landscapes, and the most expensive condos are the ones with ocean views!

Biomimicry is the conscious emulation of nature’s genius. It’s the groundbreaking science that studies and replicates nature’s brilliant processes, designs, and systems so that we, as a species, can create a future that is not only sustainable but also regenerative. Biomimicry places life at the center of our decisions and technologies.

Q: This film concentrates on the importance of connecting with nature, for both one’s personal health and the health of the planet. How can those who live in urban areas or in an area with a high poverty rate experience nature? Are they subject to a lifestyle that is less healthy than those who have access to more natural landscapes?

A: Overwhelming evidence shows that nature connection is key to both physical and mental health. So urban residents, especially those in underprivileged communities, are negatively impacted by the lack of green and blue spaces.

As an example, a scene in Love Thy Nature shows the Los Angeles map in terms of its tree canopy density. The areas that have the least amount of tree canopies are the ones with the highest incidence of cancer and childhood obesity. Certainly, there are other socio-economic factors at play, but this whole complex system of social harm and inequity is now being called “environmental justice.”

Q: What is your advice to teachers or parents to teach children the importance of nature and protecting our planet?

A: Author Richard Brendan said: “The world doesn’t want to be saved. It wants to be loved. That’s how you save it”

On her TED talk about children and Nature, Emma Marris said “That which is untouched is unloved.” I would invite the perspective that her statement might be true in both directions. Children’s vibrant imaginations can perceive the sentience of all the beings in nature and experience a sense of heartfelt reciprocity.

Parents are often overly concerned about children getting hurt in nature. And yet, as a 6 year old once said “My Band-Aid is my badge of honor”. Within reason, it is important to allow children to discover their sense of resilience, discover the world, and as author Richard Louv said in his book “The Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder” to let them ” “Turn over a rock or log, and you’ll find life forms that you never dreamed of; life forms that remind us that we are not alone in the universe.”

When children viscerally realize their deep belonging with nature, the sentience of every living being – from a spider to a squirrel, and a tree – inevitably they become inspired to protect it. And as they grow to realize the challenges of climate change and species extinctions, once they’re offered the needed emotional support – with practices such as “EcoDharma” – there might be a natural inclination to help protect our planet.

Q: What impact has technology had in terms of our relationship with nature?

A: In this day and age, when so much of our lives is spent on screens, if we’re not careful, we find ourselves almost entirely living in a virtual world. That is particularly troublesome for children, as their development relies on experiencing the world through the senses, embodied experiences, and socialization through touch and play.

I was delighted to see that our California passed the Phone-Free Schools Act, requiring that California schools draft students’ cell phone policies by 2026.

Q: What are some ways we can turn “iPad kids into nature kids”

A: Electronic devices and their ap algorithms are designed to hook children at a very early age, so once a child is hooked, it can be challenging to set them free from the cell phone addiction. That being said, with healthy boundaries, parents and educators can stimulate their “biophilia” their innate desire to connect with nature – by providing experiences with other children in natural settings.

Another way to entice kids to play outdoors is to offer experiences that match their personalities. If a child is high energy or adventurous, taking them bouldering or river rafting will give them an adrenaline rush. If they like competition, a game-oriented outing might offer a stronger appeal. An artistic child can make art from leaves, twigs, rocks, acorns etc., discovering a multidimensional experience that is much richer than what a flat screen can provide.

The documentary “Play Again” humorously shows what happens which tech-addicted teens when they’re unleashed in the wilderness.

Q: What eating habits enhance our health and the health of our planet?

A: Certainly, organic foods provide some protection from chemicals like pesticides and herbicides that are harmful both to our smaller body and our larger one (our ecosystem). An even better option is to choose foods that are from regenerative farms – which use holistic farming practices that mimic natural and Indigenous agricultural systems – enriching the whole ecosystem.

Foods, textiles, and even personal care products are starting to use Regenerative labels to meet standards of soil health, animal welfare and farmworker fairness. “Regenerative Organic Certified” is one of the mostly commonly used.

We are at a time when red meat consumption is causing major destruction of our rainforests, in particular the Amazon, which, according to the latest studies, has passed its tipping point by 6% (it has started turning to savanna on the Southern region of the “Cerrado”. The most significant culprit is the ranching business, with most of its illegal meat production being exported to the US, Europe, and China. So, when we reduce our red meat consumption, we help mitigate further destruction of the Amazon.

Q: What are some practical ways individuals can contribute to nature conservation?

A: Since we’re fast approaching an important election in the United States, one way to contribute is to support:

• Environmental Voters Project – https://www.environmentalvoter.org/ – an organization that

identifies inactive environmentalists and transforms them into consistent voters.

Indigenous peoples are by far the most effective guardians of the Earth. A United Nations study has shown that Indigenous peoples are only 5% of the world’s population, but are protecting 80% of the world’s biodiversity. Indigenous organizations to support include:

• Honor the Earth
• Indigenous Environmental Network – Water Protector Legal Collective.

Other organizations to support are:

• The Children and Nature Network
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
• Center for Biological Diversity – National Wildlife Federation (NWF) – Amazon Watch.

Q: Any final thoughts for our readers?

A: Yes, I’d like to offer you my favorite quote, inviting you to share it with your loved ones, including kids. It’s from Rumi: “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth.”

Wishing you Nature. And Love.