Conference Matters 144

MEETING DESIGN

'The brain needs movement to stay active and

of their approach to incorporating nature in their work. They are familiar with the sector because they also provide training. “We always go outside and into nature. It must be in a natural setting because the location is important. We let those who invite us know. In addition, we have made it our mission to show the conference world the importance of green spaces and the outdoors to shake things up in this field,” says Westgeest. It requires rethinking The pair sees that it is already happening on a modest scale. It requires ‘rethinking’ from people who organise conferences, meetings and sym posia. “All this time we’ve been thinking about how to do it as comfortably and efficiently as possible indoors. We haven’t thought about how to do it as comfortably and efficiently as possible out doors,” Poleacov continues. “It requires organi sation and an awareness from event organisers. Why are greenery and the outdoors so impor tant? Activation! Most people have a limited attention span. Neurologically, it’s not feasible to sit and listen all day. You get much less feedback from what you’re trying to convey.

the rain or snow as part of the treatment plan is that activation takes place. Both mind and body are ‘on’. It’s body-orientated work at the same time,” explains Poleacov, about the benefit of being outside in nature. “People can think about it and understand it, but they also need to experi ence it physically, which sticks much better, and that happens much faster outside.” Moving makes us more creative How did we end up spending too much time indoors and then sitting for hours at a time? Like Poleacov and Westgeest, even well-known neuroscientist Erik Scherder does not have an answer for this. “Halfway through his lecture, Scherder stops and makes the students stand up so they can move and perform exercises. The brain is then ready to absorb information once more,” Westgeest says happily. “Moving makes you more creative, and if you do that in a green space, it provides you with a second benefit. Science has proven that being outside is better for body and mind.” A green location The two are regularly asked to speak at confe rences, seminars and special meetings because

Organise a conference or symposium in a green space or the dunes, and then take a nature walk. The combination of exercise and being outside stimulates the brain. The result is that partici pants will remember the content or message of the conference better.

By Eduard Voorn

Walking in a green environment with the wind in your hair has a healing effect for the clients of Irina Poleacov and Christel Westgeest. These two mental health psychologists have been wor king with their company, De Buitenpsychologen (‘The Outdoor Psychologists’), since 2017 with the message that we need to go outside a lot more often. Poleacov walks through the Goois Nature Reserve, and Westgeest walks through the dunes and on the beach. “Don’t forget the city parks. Cities also have a lot of greenery,” empha sises Westgeest, strolling through Deventer. “Too many therapists do their work sitting down, advising their clients with anxiety or depression to move more and go outside. We just do it. The benefit is that walking is entrenched in our clients, and they often continue walking after therapy.” A question of activation Dutch newspaper Trouw described the pair as ‘forerunners of a new green movement within mental healthcare’. “The added value of walking in

'It requires 'rethinking' from people who organise conferences'

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