Finding Balance Through Nature and Movement

An Hour in Nature 

Shane Weafer is the owner of Body Tonic SB, a boutique Pilates studio in Santa Barbara's Funk Zone. Born in Japan and raised with Irish roots, she fell in love with Santa Barbara's coastline and community while studying at UCSB. A lifelong dancer, Shane created a signature Pilates practice that blends movement, music, and mindful connection. Read on for her refreshing perspective on reconnecting with nature, regulating the nervous system, and finding balance through life's everyday rhythms.

What’s your favourite thing to do in nature?

I love to swim in calm warm natural water sources. I love seeing the ocean life below me and getting to be part of another world in a peaceful coexistence with the native eco-life. In seasons where the ocean isn’t warm enough to comfortably swim, I love to go for long walks on the beach listening to the sounds of the waves or anywhere in nature surrounded by trees. 

How does spending time in nature influence your mental health? Can you think of a specific experience where this effect was particularly strong?

There are moments I’m called to just sit and take in the surrounding nature, that call to pause and take in the beauty of our planet is powerful, reconnecting, and important to honor when we have the privilege to claim those moments for ourself. This opportunity of the human experience is a gift, our time here is borrowed, and the lack of permanence makes me cherish the beauty of this planet with wider more aware eyes. 

Movements in nature help me regulate my nervous systems and move energy blocks that are not in harmony with the frequency of our natural world. The pacing of our society and the roles we take on in our societal contracts can be a jarring contrast to our natural state of moving in alignment with nature. This is why so many of us experience burnout and fatigue. When we slow down and surround ourselves by fresh air and plants and pure water sources, we feel recharged. It’s a direct reconnection to our source energy.

What role do natural environments play in shaping human identity and sense of self?

Nature emulates so many aspects of the human experience, seeds of life, our ancestral and divine roots, seasons of transition, clearing, growth, renewal, and sprouting of new life. I believe nature has consciousness and we are all made of the same source energy. The trials and karmic lessons of the human experience are intentionally there to challenge your growth and often designed to distract you from connecting to and remembering your true nature. When I move my body in nature it helps lower the distortion and more closely connect with the divine frequency of the universe, ultimately a revisiting back to a higher consciousness.

How do you bring nature into your home?

I am a “admire nature outside” person, admittedly I do not have a green thumb so I try not to bring any plants into my home that don’t have an innate ability to survive without consistent maintenance and care. 

However nature still plays a significant role in my home. I nourish my body with locally grown fruits/ vegetables and I use plant based tinctures and tonics to regulate my system and support organ functioning. Nature provides the oils I use to cleanse and protect my skin as well as the eco friendly household products that help keep my environment clean without use of toxic harmful ingredients. Even the sheets I sleep in and clothes I wear that come from organic cotton. Nature provides everything we need to live and thrive here on this planet and home is small reflection of how essential nature is in our day to day living 

What is your favourite natural scent, and why?

I love the smell of Anise, it reminds me of my childhood in Ireland. Black licorice is much more popular in Europe than it is in the US. Now when I smell Anise it takes me back to those innocent childhood moments of just enjoying a delicious treat and having that moment of a simple pleasure be all that mattered, fully grateful and fully present. The kind of joy that slows time around you.