At the time of me discovering Forest Bathing, I was kind of stuck, both with not knowing how to move forward, and being stuck with the 'what ifs' of the past.

My previous career as a massage therapist had been brought to an early end by my wrists becoming too painful to do what I loved most. My family was growing up and suddenly I was feeling anxious, depressed and redundant.

The call to help others was still whispering in my ear when I read about this amazing practise called Shinrin Yoku. My interest was peaked. I have always found getting out in the woods to be a tonic, and North Hampshire has it's fair share, but I had never quite appreciated just how much good it was doing me! So often after a walk, we all come back with a healthy glow and a clearer mind.

The more I learned about Shinrin Yoku and Forest Bathing, the more I realised this was something I could do. Something that was needed and something that made sense!

One evening I came across a program on TV with Michael Portillo walking around Cornwall, and he was talking to a man who had captured the media's eye by walking up a Cornish mountain for his eightieth birthday. He had fallen victim to Covid during the pandemic and as he lay in an induced comma, his family were told there was nothing more that could be done for him. The staff had decided to wheel him in his bed into the gardens, presumably to make the most of the wonderful summer that year. And he got better. He swore that it was being outside amongst the trees and the flowers that had helped him turn the corner back to health.

And that was it! I signed up to train as a Forest Bathing Guide!

After my first days training spent in a little wood on the south coast of England, I was glowing on the inside and the outside, from being amongst the trees, and from the positive vibes that this practise and the people in it were sending me. My mind had been given a break from the stresses that usually accompanied me, by focusing my senses on this beautiful spot, being in the moment and drawing a breath. The trees had bathed me in their aromatherapeutic essence and gifted me with a days worth of purer air - oxygen rich and pollution free! I felt like I had spent the day being pampered at a health spa! I knew I wanted to share this feeling with others and I knew I had found my direction and my place in the world to grow.

And the more I understood the science behind Forest Bathing, the more I realised just how much it was needed. How much benefit it brings to both people and to nature. 'To know it is to love it' definitely rings true for Forest Bathing, encouraging people to take a fresh look at the beauty of nature. Because if we love our natural environment, we will most likely take care of it, and nature could definitely do with a helping hand on that one, and if we do, it will most certainly take care of us.

There is a connection between nature and improved well-being.

The natural world of Mother Earth can soothe our frazzled nerves and gently lift us from our mental fatigue, to refresh and rejuvenate us.

It's out there, you just have to connect with it, so I invite you to let me show you how. 

You can expect a walk to take about three hours, although don’t think of it as a hike, a lot of the time is taken up being stationary, so don’t expect to get your step-count in! For this reason, it is worth remembering that we can get chilled without physical activity, so packing a few layers in a rucksack is a good idea to ensure you don’t get cold, especially in the winter months.

Often people come on their own and join the group that can be somewhere between 4-10 like-minded people. Whilst the activities are mostly done in quiet solitude, and the experiences possibly being deeply personal, the connectedness of the group gives a sense of community and an element of safety and support, with moments of optional sharing and learning from one another.