The full experience
This usually consists of 5-15 people and is a great way to not only connect with nature but also connect with other people.
The walk follows a standard sequence of guided meditation, invitations to establish sensual connections (vary by the group, the trail and weather on the day), a few rounds of circle sharing and ends with a tea ceremony.
No prior experience is needed. Typically a walk is 2.5-3 hour in duration and covers about 2 km. The walk is not physically strenuous and should be accessible for most people.
Tailored experience
Organisational team building? Company retreat? Any special needs? Talk to me and we will co-design something!
A common request is to offer nature connection experiences in “microdoses” e.g. 15-30 minutes per session, 2-3 times a day for a few days, often to support reflection and integration of a conference or work event that requires much head work.
More on forest and nature therapy:
Nature therapy is a practice that connects us to nature mindfully through our senses and feelings. It extends the scope of forest therapy to other landscapes or natural settings, such as beaches, wetlands, urban parks, botanical gardens etc.
The concept of forest therapy originated from ancient practices of forest healing in many cultures. However, it was in Japan where the term shinrin yoku (森林浴), literally translated as forest bathing, was coined and promoted by the government since the 1980s. It has since been widely adopted as a preventive health care practice.
I am trained and certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) Guides and Programs. The ANFT approach to nature therapy is culturally neutral, starting with guided meditations to slow down and open the senses, followed by relaxing walks and invitations (guided activities) to deeply connect with your surroundings. Circle sharing is used in between invitations to help connect participants with each other in a safe, mutually-supportive environment.
Scientific research, initially by Japanese researchers and increasingly by researchers globally, has demonstrated numerous health benefits by just spending time in nature in a relaxed way. Some of these benefits include:
Boosted immune system, including an increase in Natural Killer (NK) cells that target cancers
Reduced stress
Increased ability to focus
Better mood and quality of sleep