AMY WARREN
EMBRACING A NATURAL LIFESTYLE, FROM THE COMFORT OF HER TRUSTY VAN.
To many of us nature provides a sanctuary. Somewhere to visit when we need ‘fresh air’. However it is becoming increasingly important to our health and wellbeing that we take the time out of our urban lives to explore our innate attraction to the natural outdoors, focusing on our modern biophilia.
In an effort to capture this individuals interaction with her natural environment, I have learnt a lot about how nature shapes Amy. The freedom of the outdoors continues to empower her and keep her active, despite dealing with the pain of sciatica everyday.
It is unlikely you’ll find Amy confined to the walls of the indoors. Through hiking, paddle boarding, climbing and slacklining, she embraces nature into every aspect of her life. It is now proven by scientists, psychologists and mental health experts, the outdoors is wildly beneficial to our wellbeing. The health service recommends at least 20 minutes of outdoor activity a day, which for Amy simply isn’t enough. Instead, she refuses to be one of the 40% of Brits who spend less than 15 minutes outdoors each day and actively endeavours to get more people outside.
Despite being advised to avoid vigorous exercise, those suffering with sciatica are advised to stretch regularly and keep active. The art of slacklining allows Amy to improve her core strength, balance and subsequently her posture. A common cause of Sciatica is overworking the body and poor core strength leading to the irritation of the nerve root at the base of the spine. In Amy’s case, hiking with a 20kg bag across the welsh mountains through the snow and rain for her recent mountain leader assessment was partly to blame. Through the warmer seasons this young British mountaineer has found an inexpensive lifestyle surrounded by people who share a passion for the environment. It’s no secret that more and more often people are investing in vans to convert into homes. The developing subculture is composed of a remote community passionate about travelling and living more economically. Amy, along with many other young women, are perhaps making financially sensible life choices. It is recorded the highest number of people declaring themselves bankrupt in the UK are young women between the ages of 24 and 34, so is it any wonder this lifestyle change is progressing. The raw minimalism of the lifestyle was what initially grasped her, but people’s expression of pure passion and happiness was the persuasion she needed her to take the leap.
Over the last three years she has built the foundations of a loving relationship with her trusty T4, and has managed to explore many peaks across the UK. Among the Scottish Highlands, British landscapes and rugged welsh mountains she adds confidently, ‘I have only broken down twice’. Once fully recovered she intends to take her van to Europe and begin climbing abroad.
AS A PHOTOGRAPHER I HAVE FOUND NATURAL STORIES OF POSITIVITY MORE CAPTIVATING, WHICH IS WHY AMY WAS NEVER ASKED TO POSE. OFTEN SMILING, SHE EXPLAINS HOW SHE IS HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER EMBRACING NATURE. YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH AMY AND HER ADVENTURES HERE.
