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In the last year, Yennenga Adanya has taken ownership of a two-acre garden in East Point that has served the community for almost two decades. She rechristened it as Oyun Botanical Gardens and it operates as an extension of Oyun Ministries, which focuses on holistic well-being. (“Oyun” is a Yoruba word that means “ready to be birthed or born.”)
Adanya, or Queen Yenn as she is known, has restructured and formalized it into an eco-therapeutic garden and experience. Guests can partake in community gardening, tours, grounding and meditation sessions, farm-to-table dining experiences, a fresh product market, yoga, and more.
She says that any therapy in nature can be called eco-therapy, such as forest bathing, walking, or gardening. “Ecotherapy, or the act of just being in nature, can regulate the heart, bring down inflammation, and reduce stress,” she says. “By setting foot here, you’re engaging in eco-therapy.”
Horticultural therapy falls under that umbrella. She chose to bring on horticultural therapist Carol Hunter for more formal offerings in small group and one-on-one settings. Not a new discipline, horticultural therapy, or using gardening activities to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being, has been around since the 1940s. “It’s used in mental health facilities, prison systems, and senior centers,” says Hunter. “Hospitals have found that when people look at nature outside of a window, their recovery rate is faster than those who look at concrete.”
She says the therapy uses nature to bring about change. Think of it as a mind-body-nature connection. That might mean transporting a plant and Hunter having her patient be mindful about separating the roots. “From a mindfulness standpoint, I can then ask, ‘What are these things you are trying to unravel in your life?’” she says.
That could also mean having someone with cognitive issues separating seeds to improve motor function, or helping autistic children find stillness. “At Oyun, we focus on the health and wellness of the mind, body, and spirit,” she says.
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