True Nature Connect

I was recently really slated online by a number of people for offering paid forest bathing sessions. But I totally get it. Forest bathing is a new thing and when people don’t understand it or have a misconception about it, they can arrive at a misguided conclusion.

So here’s my attempt to shed light on the value of a forest bathing session (which is this post is so long), and how it differs from just taking people into the woods.

The science

You will learn a whole host of information about the science of forest bathing, the woodland environment and how this environment impacts your mind and body. The science is so compelling that I would say without fail, you will come away with a newfound sense of awe and amazement towards nature, which will enhance your nature connection.

Environmental impact

Forest bathing enhances nature connection, which not only enhances your wellbeing and helps to diminish feelings of isolation, but also promotes pro-environmental behaviour, so it’s win-win for you and for nature.

The group

Being a part of a group enhances your depth of experience, and science shows, even benefits your health – come on a session to find out exactly how and why. Much of the feedback I get is that the group experience is one of the most cherished elements.

Slowing down

You get to slow down to a pace that you would be unlikely to match on your own, and the session gives you permission to lie on the forest floor, embrace trees if you choose and really study nature at the most intimate level, something that you might feel self-conscious to do, or wouldn’t have thought to do, on your own.

Guidance

You are guided by a trained mindfulness and meditation coach (me!) and my instruction can help you to get to a deeper level of awareness than might happen otherwise.

Confidence and safety

Especially if you’re a woman who is nervous to be in the woods on your own, group forest bathing can help you to build confidence in being in the forest environment, and as the guide, I watch out for other users of the forest or potential risk, so you can relax into your practice, and I am first aid and mental health first aid trained, so can confidently support you.

Yes, forest bathing can sound very ‘woo woo’, but there is so much more to it that than. To quote The Washington Post “forest bathing is where yoga was thirty years ago”, and I think they’re right. So come and be a pioneer of this ever-developing form of nature therapy and experience for yourself how amazing it will make you feel.

Book a session here and enjoy your first session at the reduced rate of £30 - https://bookwhen.com/truenatureconnect#focus=ev-sj23-20211016100000

I'm having the most amazing experiences on my coaching course. I am lucky enough to be in three coaching relationships as I study, so I get to dig deep down into my own stuff on a regular basis.

"Talking therapy" is amazingly powerful, especially when you're interrogated to dig further and further into your own story to get to the real crux of it.

My insight yesterday was:
⭐️ I need to replace the old tape that keep playing around in my head with a new one

I don't like starting sentences with "I need to...", but sometimes, you've just got to kick yourself into that place of action, and right now, this is the action that I need.

With beautiful synchronicity, I'm in the Journey of Change module in my Masters, and I'm about to explore my story with a super inspiring friend an peer who continues to shine the light in the direction that I'm setting my sights on, Siobhan Connolly-hogan (check out her amazing life shifting courses).

Once we can see our story for what it really is, that is when we have the insight, self-awareness and power to shift it, and to replace tapes that have kept us stuck and held us back, with an alterned story that ultimately releases us and allows us to live the life rich in our own potential that we all deserve.

Self-developement for personal growth isn't an easy choice, but it's definitely the one that will have the most positive impact on your life.

What an amazing mini Forest Bathing session 🤩!

I’ve been ill this last week but have made sure that I get out in nature for at least half an hour each day, and it’s made such a difference 😊

The forest was such a banquet of delights this morning 🥰. The light illuminating the steam as it glided off the foliage to mingle with breath I could see unfurl out of my mouth, again, reminding me that we and nature are one.

I found this incredible spot, just a minutes walk from the car, and stayed there, just leaning against a tree as my gaze was softly fascinated by all the millions of intricate things that were going on around me, as I gifted myself the chance to pause in nature.

I love walking and chatting in nature with friends, it seems to make conversation so easy, natural and fluid, but there is also something so precious and special about being alone in nature, abandoning thoughts and just being. It really is my special time, and I feel the time that nourishes, revives and restores me the most.

I hope you get a chance to go out in nature today. And try stopping. No need to walk. Just pitch up and see what happens. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. It’s given me my dose of awe, joy and happiness for the day 🤩😊😁

Thank you amazing nature 🙏🥰

This is some of the wonderful science that has come out of Japan. They discovered that phytoncide, the chemical omitted by trees to protect the trees immunity, also boosts ours.

When we breathe in phytoncides, it kick starts our bodies to increase the production of natural killer cells (NKCs).

I like to think of this as Pacman, going around gobbling up any diseased, decaying or virus infected cells which lerk in our bodies and can lead to harm.

And what's more, after a two hour forest bathing session, the increased level of NKCs will stay at that level for two weeks, before beginning to subside. It takes four weeks for your level of NKC's to get back down to what there were before your forest bathing session.

So for optimum health, come forest bathing once a fortnight.

Nature really does hold the key to our health and wellbeing.

Click her for more forest bathing dates, and I'm always adding more to the diary https://bookwhen.com/truenatureconnect#focus=ev-sg7u-20210928100000

It would be great to connect 😊

Great opportunity for a bit of mid week forest bathing in Grayshott on Tuesday to catch the beginning of Autumn.

Learn some incredible science behind how nature can benefit your emotional and psychological health, whilst also enhancing your physical health.

Nature really does hold the key to our health and wellbeing, and a three hour fully immersive forest bathing experiences is one of the greatest gifts you can gift yourself.

So come and slow down as you come home to nature and begin to feel whole again.

If it's your first time, then I'm really happy to offer you a spot for £30. So book here for an experience which will ehnahce your relationship to nature and make you feel fantastic.
https://bookwhen.com/truenatureconnect#focus=ev-sg7u-20210928100000

It would be great to connect.😊

My positive psychology tutor appears to live the most joyfully abundant life of anyone I know, and her formula for success is to do these three simple things at least once a day, every day:

⭐ Do something you love doing
⭐ Do something to make another person happy or for the greater good
⭐ Do something that brings you closer to success

And here’s why this combo will work for you too - it will satisfy all of your psychological needs, which will put you firmly on the path to flourishing.

(Thanks for the great tip Ceri 😊👍)

So this morning I journaled ✍️ my plan for the day and this evening I’ll journal my progress, because for me, journaling turns thinking into action, which is where the gains are made.

BUT DON’T FORGET….. notice as you go along how this all make you feel, because the magic really is in the moment 🤩.

Have a great day everyone.

Spent a truly wonderful day yesterday, mindfully connecting to both nature 🍀 and my innate creativity 🎨.

I spent the morning sitting on the forest floor with my dear friend Caroline, artist extraordinaire, teacher and facilitator www.carolinehomfray.co.uk - surrounded by eco art supplies as we explored our experience through mark making with the different medium.

It was an exploration in mindfulness through art using nature as the focal point, so was all about the process rather than the outcome.

And the whole experience was an absolute joy 🤩

So much so, that I’m delighted to say that we’re now in discussion about teaming up to create a course combining forest bathing with art….. 😆 super excited!….

Have a wonderful day everyone, and try to do just one thing you enjoy today 😁

I'm completely embracing both extremes of what I love about life this weekend 🥰

I'm bathing my soul in the beauty of the woods on Saturday morning 🌲🌳, then going out raving all Saturday night 💃🦸‍♀️.... The two ❤️'s of my life!!!!!!!! And it's going to give me a wellbeing boost for weeks to come!

I started to make positive change in my life a while before Covid hit.

The simple change I made was to commit to intentionally doing things to generate positive emotions. It really was that simple.

⭐️ What do I love?
⭐️ What do I miss?
⭐️ Ok. Either do it more or bring it back into my life.

Simple.

So if your life's feeling flat, or you spend a lot of time in nostalgic recollection (which is great btw, as nostalgia is a powerful psychological resource), then why not try bringing some of the loves from your past into your current existence, or just make it a priority to do more of what you love?

It's completely transformed my life. It's turned it technicolour again ☺️.... bye-bye mid-life blues, hello bright shiny future!

God love Positive Emotions 🥰 and God love giving-it-some 💃💪

What are you going to do this weekend that will knock-your-socks-off??

Wow.... if you life is anything like mine, these last two weeks have been bonkers!

The kids are back at school, my eldest moved up to secondary school; the emotions, the organisation, the cost🤯! An avalanche of computer log-in and passwords, planners, clubs, homework 😱! ....I'm spinning 🤪😬!

I need to go Forest Bathing..... who's coming with me??!

I'm Forest Bathing this Saturday at Farnham Heath from 10-1pm - £40. Book here if you know you need it too https://bookwhen.com/truenatureconnect#focus=ev-swfl-20210918100000

It would be great to connect 😊

I would be really grateful if you could share this post - thanks.

I'm so excited! I'm back on my Masters - Applied Positive Psychology - after taking a year out due to mental health and then another break courtesy of Covid.

But it feel so good to be back on my path 😆👍🙏

All the amazing things I will learn, such how to foster the mindset of grit and mental toughness, will all be fed into the offerings that will become a part of True Nature Connect.

True Nature Connect combines the science of positive psychology and nature connection with coaching to help you to connect to your true nature so you too can make the most out of life and live it to the full.

So do you have a vision, and are you pursuing it with grit and mental toughness?

I take my hat off to you if you are.... it's the hardest but most rewarding thing to do, and boy does that courage and conviction feel good 💪😅😊👍

Tell me anyone who doesn't come away from a forest bathing session (even the skeptic!), feeling a million dollars?!

Forest bathing for me is nothing short of an elixir for life, and science backs this up. Study after study shows the benefits of this emerging form or nature therapy for lifting depression and melting away anxiety and stress.

And the affects don't just last during the session.

Come forest bathing regularly.... for scientific reasons, at least once a fortnight is what you want to be aiming for.... and observe the impact it has on you. I guarantee it will only be good.

Nature really does hold the key to your health and wellbeing, so come and experience it for yourself this Saturday at Farnham Heath. Click here to book - https://bookwhen.com/truenatureconnect#focus=ev-swfl-20210918100000

I'd be really grateful if you could share this post - thanks 😊

Forest Bathing - what is it and why do it?

The Japanese started forest bathing in the 1980's. They call it Shinrin Yoku, which translates slightly misleadingly as Forest Bathing.

It's the act of slowly and mindfully engaging in the forest through all of your senses, so I sum it up as mindfulness in the woods.

The benefits are so plentiful (and the science keeps growing) that the Japanese prescribe it on their health service to counter the ailments of modern life - stress, heart conditions, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety, to name but a few, and the UK is following in their footsteps. It really is the elixir for life.

From a positive psychology perspective, it generates a whole host of positive emotions, specifically joy, happiness and awe, helps you think better, be more switched, more pleasant to be around and more resilient.

And guess what? No side affects.....apart from good ones!

Through Autumn I'm running Forest Bathing session on Saturdays in Farnham and week days in Grayshott - check out my website to find out more - www.truenatureconnect.co.uk

Or read my blog - https://truenatureconnect.co.uk/forest-bathing-returning-to-the-source/

It would be great to connect 😊

Forest Bathing - what is it and why do it?

The Japanese started forest bathing in the 1980's. They call it Shinrin Yoku, which translates slightly misleadingly as Forest Bathing.... it really has nothing to do with swimming costumes, unless you're really brave!

It's the act of slowly and mindfully engaging in the forest through all of your senses, so I sum it up as mindfulness in the woods.

The benefits are so plentiful (and the science keeps growing) that the Japanese prescribe it on their health service to counter the ailments of modern life - stress, heart conditions, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety, to name but a few, and the UK is now following in their footsteps. It really is the elixir for life.

From a positive psychology perspective, it generates positive emotions, specifically joy, happiness and awe, helps you think better, be more switched, more pleasant to be around and more resilient.

And guess what? No side affects.....apart from good ones!

I'm running Forest Bathing sessions in Farnham and Grayshott over the Autumn so check out my website to find out where and when - www.truenatureconnect.co.uk

You can also read my blog to find out more https://truenatureconnect.co.uk/forest-bathing-returning-to-the-source/

It would be great to connect

Unwind woodland retreat will completely relax, reset and recharge you after your busy summer of life back to nearly-normal.

So come and grab your chance of tranquility before the cooler months set in, because as we all know, you just never know what's around the corner!

On that note, we're offering a no quibbles wet-weather full refund promise.

Find out more about what the day has in store here - https://truenatureconnect.co.uk/experiences/retreats/

And book your ticket to Unwind here - https://www.wishangerwildschool.co.uk/bookings-checkout/unwind-a-woodland-day-retreat-19-09-21/book?referral=service_list_widget

Enjoy your day.