Participants will be engaged in liminality by discovering the in-between of civilization (industrialization, cities, etc.) and nature (natural world). Living in a civilization that has been highly industrialized and urbanized has made people forget about their natural roots. In each specified setting (given in the directions), people will be asked to listen, feel, and breathe the experiences and connections between humanity's creation and the natural world. The journey takes place in two locations on campus. This “journey” will put participants in spaces where there are nature and urbanization together, one trumps the other, and the transition between both.

The first area of the journey is located at the greenhouse off Carver Rd. To beginning the urban civilization part of the journey, enter the building through the handicap parking lot entrance and continue to the second building that is accessed through the courtyard. As soon as you enter the second building of the greenhouse, make a left. After entering the Dinosaur room, stop and look down. There is a crack that extends out from under a rock. With your feet on the rock and hand on the crack that goes across the concrete floor, do four sets of ten negative push-ups; taking notice of the negative space in the crack. After completing this task, continue to the Tropical Fruit and Spice room. Looking for the diamond pattern of wood and soil, here you will do line jumping, 4 sets of 10. While jumping, take notice of the negative space in-between the wood that laid out in a pattern. Do you think the texture of the stone pavers make the soil look as though it has the same texture, even though we know it does not? When done with line jumping continue to the Rainforest Conservatory room. Stop at the top of the stairs, hold onto the handrail, close your eyes and clear your mind. Slowly descending the stairs, taking notice of the intense sound of the fan and how the sound changes to the relaxing sound of running water. You will hear the sounds of urban civilization at the top of stairs, in the middle of the stairs, you will hear the in-between states of urban civilization and nature, and at the bottom, you will hear the sound of nature. Once at the bottom of the stairs, open your eyes and turn facing the stairs. Jump with both feet, at the same time until you make it back to the top of stairs.

The second location on campus is inside Susie Harwood Garden. The entrance is across the street from the greenhouse. Using the gravel pathway, take the first left. At the picnic table, the second part of the journey begins. Here you will jog around the pond to the far side, crossing the bridge that crosses the creek, then make a left at the next bridge that brings you back across to the pond to make a complete circle. Jog this path four times. Go to the Gazebo that you will see from the bridge that crosses the creek. The first walkway past the gazebo (opposite direction of the bridges that crosses the creek) you will see a gravel path to the right. As soon as you take a few steps on the trail, it branches off in two directions. On your left,  you will see a few steps made of wooden railroad ties. If you are in the right place, you should see a sculpture made of stone. Here you will do four sets of ten sit-ups, placing your feet in-between the soil and the wooden railroad tie. Take notice of the shape created by negative space between the soil and the wood railroad ties. Is it an organic or geometric shape? As you walk back to the Garden exit,  reflect upon how you feel after exercising in a man-made space and in nature. Which one did you prefer?

It is important for humankind to understand that urbanization continues to grow. People move further and further away from nature with every new structure built, making it easier for someone to forget what it is like to be one with nature with their mind, body, and soul. As the authors of this instructional journey, this is our way to get participants back to the natural world by getting them outside to exercise. Hopefully, there will be a revival of the natural spirit as it reconnects with what was forgotten.

 

 

Exercising in an Urban and Natural Setting

By:  Cheryl Hoke and Sebastiano Blandino