Wellbeing
You are a part of nature. For as long as time humans have had a close bond with nature. As hunter-gathers we lived and survived off the land. It is where your physical, mental, and spiritual body was created to exist. It is in the natural world that you thrive with the most ease, and it’s only in very recent times that this fundamental connection with nature for your wellbeing has been forgotten.
I share nature-based practices to support you with restoring and caring for your wellbeing. Guiding you to remember, reconnect, and relearn so you can lean on nature to support you with maintaining a well and balanced mind, body, and soul. My practice is based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku forest-bathing, nature-based meditation, and the ancient plant medicine cacao.
Explore more about this practices below, and you’ll find upcoming events (online and in nature) in the event calender here
Forest-bathing
Forest-bathing is a gentle yet powerful practice of immersing your whole self in the natural environment around you. Experience as a slow guided walk that focuses on your senses, supporting you with being in the present and in flow with nature.
meditation
Meditation is developing an awareness of the present moment. A practice that soothes the nervous system, supports the mind and is where you meet your true nature. Weaving nature into meditation I beleive brings more ease, and enjoyment to developing a practice.
Cacao
Cacao is chocolate in its natural form. A plant medicine from the Amazon that dates back to the first civilisation of the rainforest, the Olmecs. Since then it’s become know as the ‘food of the Gods’ for its powerful spiritual effects and numerous health benefits as well as being delicious to drink.
forest bathing
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We, as humans, have been on earth for 6-7million years, and for the majority of that time (99.9%) we have lived in nature. Until very recently home was the forest, we lived amongst the trees, finding food on the land, tending to our needs with what was naturally found around us. We were apart of nature, flowing in tune with nature’s rhythms.
Our mind, nervous system and physical body were created to exist in the natural environment. Forest bathing, as a practice, returns you to your natural way of being.
As a practice forest-bathing originated in Japan in the 1980s where it’s called Shinrin-Yoku - meaning to bathe in the forest atmosphere or taking in the forest through your senses.
At the time Japan was experiencing a booming tech industry with a surge of people leaving rural life in search of success working in the cities. They worked long, stressful hours and as a result workers were becoming unwell. Noticing they had a workplace wellbeing crisis and in need of a solution they took workers into the park for a couple of hours and noticed that it was having a significant impact on their wellbeing.
We now have 40 years of research to prove the benefits of being connected to nature.
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Benefits for the body:
reduces tiredness & recharges energy
balances the nervous system by enhancing activity of the parasympathetic system & suppressing the sympathetic system
lowers stress levels (adrenaline & cortisol hormones)
reduces blood pressure, lowers the pulse rate & supports metabolic disorders
improves the length & quality of sleep (walking in the afternoon is better for this)
boosts the immune system & increases important 'natural killer' cells that fight illness
Benefits for the mind:reduces anxiety, depression & improves mood state
improves cognitive function - focus, concentration & memory
increases ability to cope
disconnecting from digital technology/screens
Benefits for self:alleviates social isolation
supports being in the present
creates a deeper connection to intuition/spiritual enhancement
increases creativity (creative output increases by 60%)
sense of awe, feeling more grateful of what's naturally around you
meditation
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Meditation is a pause, a practice to support dropping down from the busy mind, and into the physical body. Through shifting awareness into the present moment of felt sensations, feelings and thoughts.
By awakening the senses and noticing the activity of the mind meditation guides you to focus your attention on one thing. Every time you notice the mind wandering you bring your attention back to your anchor point, as many times as you need.
Meditation is space for developing self awareness, a place where you meet your present truth and are able to develop a deeper connection with your self. By being your own curious observer with what is noticed, without judgement, an attitude of openness is cultivated. Remembering, always to shower your self in kindness and love with whatever arises in each moment. As you are human, you are not perfect, and your mind is only ever doing what it was designed to do - thinking! -
Benefits for the mind:
reduces anxiety, depression & stress levels
improves focus, concentration & memory
helps to develop mental stability, increasing resilience & ability to cope with change
stimulates the parasympathetic system creating a sense of calm & a more positive outlook
helps to develop empathy, compassion for self & others
supports developing self awareness & a deeper understanding of yourself
Benefits for the body:
supports brain function
strengthens the immune systemhelps improve sleep & gives energy
supports coping with physical & emotional discomfort
helps with asthma, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes
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I weave into meditation the support that comes from connecting with nature.
In nature our nervous system is soothed. By incorporating the sounds, sights, smells and feelings of nature into meditation it brings more ease and enjoyment to the practice.Clients regularly share how much more supportive they find meditating with nature is as you have stimuli, through your senses, for your mind to focus on. Particularly beneficial for those who are nervous or starting to meditate.
Meditation isn't easy! I always encourage you to continually dose yourself in love and self compassion as you strengthen your meditation muscle and get to know yourself better.
Cacao
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Cacao is a plant medicine that comes from beans of cacao trees in the Amazon rainforest. It has a long history that dates back to the 1st civilisation of the rainforest, the Olmecs and at times has been considered their most valuable commodity for trading.
Drinking cacao in a way that honours the ancient medicine is a nourishing and soothing experience. Cacao contains neurotransmitters and neuro-modulators chemicals that create the benefits experienced from drinking cacao. Mayan elders considered cacao one of the most powerful dieties and it is thought that ‘when the connection between man and nature goes out of balance,
The Spirit of Cacao come out of the rainforest to bring people back to their heart”. Cacao is a feminine energy, and the Mayan’s believe that it nourishes all parts of you, and so is an important part of their diet.
Cacao has the most beautiful ability to open your connection to heart, gently encouraging you to receive guidance that you are ready for, and helping you to gain a deeper understanding of yourself. -
Benefits for the mind:
stabilises the mood & supports the nervous system through release of serotonin
creates a blissful, pleasurable feeling through triggering the endorphin anandamide (the ‘high’ that is experienced after exercise)
supports the nervous system through triggering dopamine
Benefits for the body:enhances focus & concentration, chromium increases the blood flow to the brain
boosts your energy
supports performance & mental health through triggering phenylethylamine
relaxes the body & creates a sense of calm due to high level of Magnesium
lowers blood pressure
reduces stress levelsopens connection to heart
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These are the reasons to not drink cacao
if you are taking anti-depressant or anti-psychotic medication
if you are pregnant or breast-feeding and don't drink cacao regularly
if you have any heart concerns/conditions
if you are sensitive to caffeine (contains less than coffee & has a slow release)
sensitive/allergic to theobromine (stimulates the cardiovascular system)
If any of these are relevant to you at this time it’s best to check with you doctor before drinking
kind words from Event Participants
