Awaken your senses, slow down, be present and reconnect to the natural frequency and sounds of the forest. Inspired in the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, Virtual Forest Bathing allows you to tune into nature where you are.
How is the experience?
In this Virtual Forest Bathing Experience, I will be in my home forest: 400 year old cedar Forest in the Sintra Cascais Natural Park, Portugal. You will be at your home forest, garden, back yard, living room with your favourite potted plant or simply gazing out of your window. We will be connected through my Zoom account. During the walk I will have my video and sound on so you can also connect to the sounds of where I am that typically include bird song and the rustling of the leaves in the wind.
Thought out the Virtual Forest Bathing Experience, as a guide I will offer a series of invitations. We use the word invitations very consciously as there is no right or wrong way of doing them. They are essentially sensory invitations where we will explore what if feels like to engage with the world though our sensing qualities as humans. We start with two invitations that offer the possibility for us to slow down and drop into the present moment offering a threshold of connection. Following those, there is a series of invitations that offer the possibility for a connection with the different beings that are in the forest, trees, plants, birds, animals either physically if you can get into nature or using also our sense of imagination.
After each invitation, we will have the opportunity to share our experiences in a sharing circle. Drawing upon the wisdom of sharing circles that have been in our culture for centuries, each participant can offer their story. Just like with invitations, everything is welcome. Participants are free to share with words, with silence or in any way that feels good to them.
Images of the actual walk
Who is the host?
Geeta Stilwell is an ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Mentor and Trainer based in Portugal. She is the founder of the company Renature where she creates and facilitates restorative programs that promote wellbeing and health through Forest Bathing, Nature Connection Practices, Clean eating and Self-care. She works all over the world with various populations that range from the general public, corporate teams, schools, families, mental health populations and individuals recovering from situations of excess stress and burn out.
Her passion is to bring human beings back to nature and support the reconnection to the restorative potency of the natural world, especially through the healing potency of nature sounds and silence. Based on her own recovery journey, she creates a safe space for the nature connection and self-care journey to unfold. Over the past 20 years she has dedicated a great part of her time and resources to her own development and self-care journey and this life experience is the foundation for her work.
She is trained in Forest Therapy, Embodied Mindfulness and Conscious Resting and in the field of Healthcare as a Pharmacist. She is trained in Council and Active Meditation Techniques and is currently training to be a Life Coach. She holds a Masters in Business Management and is fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.
What are people saying?
It has been an amazing experience. Thank you for the beauty you brought into my life today... Experience highly suggested..
Prem Deva Spagnioli, Italy
This was a blessing - thank you Geeta.
Lia Braun, Berlin, Germany
Thank you, Geeta 💚for guiding us today. It was such a connecting experience - I never imagined that I would get so "lost" and "deep" just by receiving the guiding through the mobile phone. Also, the suggestion of turning off our camera while doing the invitations was a very good idea and gave me my own space. Thank you to all the other participants; so great to feel the loving bond between us - like one of you said: We were connected like trees in a forest. This was such a precious gift. Thank you. 💚
Bente Hauge, Norway
Thank you Maria Carmo Geeta Stilwell!!!! That was so so lovely!!!
Tam Willey, Boston, USA
Thank you for your generous offer, for being our guide, opening the door to the heart of the forest.I loved the way the birds in Portugal, where you were guiding from sang through my headphones and joined the birds around me in Oslo, Norway. And how the crystal cold air passing trough my fingers felt connected to the air the others were describing from other parts of the world in real time. Thank you all 💚 Dagheid Solholm, Oslo, Norway
Thank you so much Geeta💗and everyone of you who shared the walk this morning, I am inspired🌿🌿
Maiju Volhonen, Finland
Thank you Geeta for another beautiful walk yesterday. I love discovering my indoor forest, it was so touching to hear everyone, will have stories to share with the nature outdoors once I get there next time. Now I know how every of my plants at home smells 🙂 See you next time!!
Veronika, Prague, Czech Republic
Thank you again Maria Carmo Geeta Stilwell. I am noticing new colors, new ways of getting connected, I am feeling blessed. 🙏🏼
Giovanna Raineri Blanco, Chile
Gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the walk today. It brought balance and well being in a time of uncertainty and stress. The combination of nature connection and diverse people from around the globe, was delightfully nourishing to my soul.
Shelley Quade, USA
It was very special and reminds me that everything is possible and we are all one. Thank you for bringing this together🙏
Allisoon Sousa, USA
Thank you, Geeta. It was really beautiful and grounding. So appreciated. Xo. So good to connect with people all over the world!
Samantha Martin, Canada
Thank you Maria Carmo Geeta Stilwell. It was for me today a journey from sadness to acceptance, and beautiful even so.
Elisabeth Walghren, Sweden
It was such a lovely experience, thank you dear Geeta. Really looking forward to the next one.
Daniela Mertens, Portugal
I have been participating in Maria Carmo Geeta Stilwell's virtual forest therapy walks over the past week or so. Geeta is situated in Portugal and people from around the globe have participated which - while virtual in terms of people - makes it incredibly connecting. I am so deeply grateful to Geeta and other forest therapy guides who are exploring and wading into this new way of facilitating ft walks. Geeta provides invitations in a way that can be done both inside and outside.
Monika Steitzl, Canada
Thank you Geeta! 🙏💜 Feeling blessed and happy after your guided Forest Therapy walk. It's really helpful in these times and will stay in our memory as moments of light, warmth and connectedness
Laura Sarkanabola, Latvia
Thank you Geeta! 🙏🏻💚 a really wonderful experience.
Lucia Catalano, Zurich, Switzerland
Price
US$15 per person
Group size: 1 to up to 100 people
Schedule
For a suitable time and date, please contact the host using the form below.
Intrusions
Very rarely there might be other humans passing by.
Contact Host
Terms and Conditions: Please note that by submitting this form you agree:
In the event of a cancellation, the customer will be notified by Mello Stilwell Lda/Host as soon as it is possible. After the cancellation you will receive alternative dates for participation or a total refund of all monies paid to date. Mello Stilwell Lda reserves the right to cancel or modify experiences and/or events in the following situations:
Unfavourable climate conditions that render the activity non doable;
The minimum safety conditions are not complied with
Other conditions that render the activity non doable (fires, strong winds, fallen trees, etc.)
Force Majeure: In the case of circumstances beyond normal control, such as war, civil or political unrest, actions and orders from the authorities, strikes, catastrophes, epidemics and/or pandemics or other severe damages or highly unexpected factors, Mello Stilwell Lda may cancel the experiences and/or events, and the amounts received to date will not be refunded.
In case of cancellation of reservations by the customer, the total refund (minus the QPI service charge) of monies will depend on the following conditions:
3 Hour Experiences - Total refund (minus the QPI service charge) when the cancellation is made 72 hours prior to the date of the activity.
1 Day Events - Total refund (minus the QPI service charge) when the cancellation is made 7 days prior to the date of the activity.
2 Day and 5 Day events - Total refund (minus the QPI service charge) when cancellation is made 2 weeks before the date of the activity.