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.
20 Inspiring Nature Quotes
The seasons are changing, inviting us to explore the outdoors. We hope these nature quotes will inspire you to spend more time in nature!
Book your Forest Therapy walk in Australia!
You can now find an INFTA-Certified Forest Therapy Guide at locations across Australia by clicking here! Originating from Japan, Shinrin-yoku (Nature and Forest Therapy) is an evidence-based preventative and therapeutic health practice of immersion in forests and other natural environments, intending to promote mental and physical health while at the same time being able to enjoy and appreciate nature. The walks are very popular so book your spot early! Since the pandemic, people are more stressed, anxious, and depressed and have chronic health conditions. Guided Forest Therapy walks provide a pathway for people to regain their health, feel safe and supported, learn and remember how good it is to immerse in nature and rest from all that consumes us in our daily lives. Forest Therapy walks help participants take time out of their busy lives so they can slow down and connect with the calming and health-giving benefits of nature. During a Forest Therapy walk, you will be guided through a sequence of nature connection practices. There is no expectation of what you should do, experience, or receive. Rather, guides simply encourage and support participants to immerse in nature through their senses, looking, listening, exploring, noticing and feeling with a quiet and accepting presence. A relaxing tea ceremony! Forest Therapy Guides gently support participants through a sequence of nature connection activities to wonder slowly, mindfully and in appreciation of nature. Taking a walk in nature has healing power for our minds and souls. We don’t ask anything from nature, yet nature gives us silence, peace, harmony and beauty, without limits. Walking in nature is an efficient therapy for our stressed, fast-paced lives.
Cultivate Self-Care: Embrace these 10 Daily Rituals for a Balanced Life
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s all too easy to forget to take care of ourselves. Yet, by incorporating small, daily self-care habits, we can ensure that we are at our optimum—emotionally, physically, and mentally. These moments of mindfulness are essential for reconnecting with ourselves and finding balance in our hectic world. I’m happy to share some simple yet impactful ideas to help you carve out a little time for yourself each day. You deserve it. Start incorporating these steps into your life this week and begin your journey towards a more centered and fulfilled self. Start including these simple steps in your life. Begin this week. Especially this week. 1. Be still. Start a sit spot practice – 10 minutes in your garden. 2. Walk. Take a short walk without your mobile phone – leave it at home. 3. Connect. Walk on grass without your shoes – what do you notice? 4. Relax. Give your body ten minutes of mindful attention – start with relaxing your cheeks, your neck, your shoulders, all the way down to your toes. 5. Breathe. Take ten deep breaths of fresh air – inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth or nose. 6. Savor. Take ten minutes to eat an apple (or fruit of your choice). Chew slowly, noticing the textures, smells and taste. 7. Inhale lavender, peppermint or other sweet smelling herbs or flowers. Relish the aroma and notice the sensations. 8. Read. Find a quiet spot at home or in your garden and read a poem from nature. Sip on your favorite tea. 9. Bathe. Soak yourself in a hot tub with nature infused oils and aromas. 10. Treat. Buy a small nature-inspired luxury as a way of valuing yourself. A plant, recyclable yoga mat, or a Forest Therapy guided walk! With a little bit of attention to your own self-care, you will feel more connected to yourself and the world around you. Incorporating a few of these ideas in your day will help keep you in tune with nature. And that’s always a good thing! Which one will you try first? Here are some links to research which shows that nature experiences provide an antidote to stress and support general wellness, offering restorative experiences that ease the mind and heal the body.
