Find a quiet place in nature and notice…
It’s now quiet. I notice a butterfly and another and another… vigorous flight over the tall grass alongside the creek.
Take a relaxing “Forest bathing” walk close to Melbourne – Toolangi
Every weekend, I check out the best spots in close proximity to Melbourne for stressed-out city dwellers to escape to and experience forest bathing or ‘taking in the medicine of the forest’. Recently, as I drove through the beautiful Yarra Valley with my friend Richard, I realized how lucky we Melbournians are to have such lush forests in close proximity to the city. Forest like these offer a wonderful healing experience – if only we visit more often! And I’ve picked up some interesting facts to share: To experience a very relaxing and healing forest bathing experience, I would recommend parking at the Forest Discovery Center, and stepping inside to see the lovely works of art inspired by nature. Switch off your mobile ☺. Then, step outside for a gentle stroll around the Toolangi Sculpture Trail. Stop to admire and read the history and story behind each ephemeral and permanent sculpture that reflects the artist’s environmental concerns and explorations of nature. The Yea River Walk opposite the center is ideal for a real forest immersion experience. It is an easy one-hour walk which passes through Messmate, Narrow Leafed Peppermint, Mountain Grey Gum forest and Mountain Ash forest. The Yea River is full of aquatic life including platypus and many fish species. The viewing platform provides an excellent vantage point to see the river. It’s so relaxing to walk at Toolangi State Forest. If you need to de-stress, get away from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne CBD or just need some time out to relax, please join me for a guided Forest Bathing Walk at the Toolangi Forest. If you like, please have a look when next we offer a guided walk at this magnificent and healthy natural environment and other locations close to Melbourne.
A rainy day in summer
Last night a huge thunderstorm swept across Melbourne. As showers continued into the day, I decided to go to my sit spot. The little purple flowers were drenched in rain, the droplets glistening as they held on to the stems. The streams were full again, ducks happily swam along the creek.As I walked across the grass path, I saw this little flower. A lonely flower, a beauty in lilac with drops of rain on its delicate petals. It reminded me of a poem I once read online: Another day, another hourUntil I walk past a lonely flower.I stare at its beauty and its graceThat’s when I realize, I slowed my pace.The flower enjoys the wind and sunLets itself be, and defined by no one.It takes each day as it comes and goesProud to display what it has to show.Thankful for the sunlight of every dayand open to acceptance of the harsh rain. As I walk along the creek, I breathe in the strong scent of the earth and the eucalyptus trees. This smell inspired two Australian scientists to coin the word “petrichor”. It’s a beautiful word to suggest that humans inherited an affection for the smell from ancestors who relied on rainy weather for their survival. The rain reminds me that everything, every living thing on Earth, needs water to survive. I hope it rains every now and then in summer.
If you ever feel lost, find yourself in nature
I have found ‘nature’ to be one of the common denominators in people’s healing journey. Physical healing aside, the natural world is where we have always gone in times of celebration and grief. It’s a place to find peace and wisdom. We all know intuitively that nature provides healing, refuge, peace and clarity. Is this what we now refer to as “forest therapy?” A therapy that has no known negative side effects and is readily available, in all seasons? A prescription for ails of the body and mind? A nature connection that improves cognitive functioning, lowers blood pressure and reduces stress? A forest therapy guided walk opens the door to many of these benefits and more! As a guide, I will help you find your way back to yourself, through the healing power of mindful connection to nature. It’s about being “present” and looking beyond the surface, since looking deeply makes for a more connected and grateful life. Leave the stress behind and just Breathe! Relax. Feel good. Listen. Simply Notice… What to expect on a forest therapy guided walk A Forest Bathing/Shinrin-yoku walk takes 2 to 3 hours and covers no more than a kilometer over easy, flat surfaces. I will help you slow down, awaken your senses, ditch the phone, and restore your relationship with yourself, the land and really immerse in the ‘atmosphere of the forest.’ You do not have to effort, rather be invited to a pleasurable and soothing experience. I draw upon mindfulness practices, and the techniques of deep nature connection mentoring. It takes 20 to 30 minutes for the body and mind to settle into new surroundings. As a guide, I select only the most comfortable, gentle walking paths and healing forests so that you will experience nature in a mindful and present way. Our practice helps you become aware of your senses. To really slow down. You are invited to be more gentle with yourself and receive all that nature has to offer. Join me on a guided walk Get re-introduced to nature in a way that is supportive and engaging. Allow yourself to receive your own unique experience with the earth. As your guide, I will hold a safe non-judgemental space to help you open up to experience all that is going on around you. Even new senses which you will soon discover. Join me on a guided walk with a small group. Or call me for a one-on-one private walk. I will be grateful for the experience to introduce you to nature. Each of us is bound to nature by invisible threads. At the end of the day, we come out into nature not because science says it does something to us, but because of how it makes us feel.
Make your sit spot practice private and intimate
I recently introduced the ‘sit spot’ practice to guests on a guided walk. Curious as to what this means, I explained the ancient practice of finding a place of intimate connection with nature – a place where you learn to sit still – alone, often and quietly. As promised in my last blog, here are some suggestions about getting the greatest benefit from your sit spot. It is a regular habit which benefits my Forest Therapy guiding and mentoring. I used to think I had a good connection with nature with all my hiking. However, I have come to learn and appreciate a further level of connection from a few simple practices at my sit spot. My sit spot has become my nesting niche, retreat and renewal centre. Although keeping still is hard for most of us, we can gain a lot of benefits both physical and mental through this simple, but powerful practice. So, how can YOU tap into the benefits of a sit spot practice? Find time when your chores are done and you can slip away alone. Then quietly approach your sit spot and you’ll notice more. Having established a sit spot routine, you will soon find incredible things happening around you and with you: maybe an echidna will come out of the shrubs and feed a few meters next to you! It’s a practice of being completely present, opening all the senses to become aware of all that is going on in the environment. It takes time for animals to feel safe again to come out and continue with their daily routines. The other part to this routine is about sitting, about stillness. Focus on improving your sit spot and your observation skills. By being a quiet, unobtrusive guest you will learn to make yourself welcome again, as an accepted member of the natural community. To fully get to know your sit spot, go there at different times of day. Depending on the time of day you will observe different animals and different behavior patterns. Notice the different birds, flowers and animals through the seasons. Big umbrellas are good for rainy but also very sunny days! Sit quietly and comfortably as this is the best way to allow the natural world to get to know you as well. After a while, birds and animals may approach you with curiosity. Allow yourself a few minutes to start noticing. Once you sit quietly long enough, the birds accept the fact that you are there and there for good. As they return to their daily tasks, a previously hidden dimension of your landscape opens up. Simply try listening firs to different bird songs until you can distinguish between them. Use all your senses: your vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell. If you are intuitive, you can use that too. Occasionally, I take my journal to my sit spot to sketch or write what I observe. Yesterday I observed what is best described as a ‘territorial war’ between birds at the pond. After heavy rain I may take my camera as the creek is beautiful when flowing. Let nature guide you to enjoy your sit spot in mindful ways. I have two: one is on the edge of a small creek with wooded area in the neighborhood. The other is our home garden where I can observe lots of birds and different wild flowers. Having two sit spots makes it easy to connect with nature, whatever the time, day or weather. Busyness, does not interfere! I hope you can make the best of your sit spot practice this year. It is an experience that each person enjoys and benefits in different ways. Enjoy your sit spot in a way that brings you joy, happiness and connection.
