How is the experience?

Forest bathing (or forest therapy) is inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (shinrin: forest; yoku; bath). It is a practice that brings us into sensory connection with the natural environment and into deeper connection with ourselves and others.

Liz Dawes, will guide this 1.5-hour virtual walk from a magical woodland on the Broughton Hall Estate, a 3000-acre sanctuary in the Yorkshire Dales.

You will join Liz in the woodland via zoom (a link will be sent to you). During the walk, Liz offers a series of optional invitations that are designed to heighten your sensory awareness.

Stepping away from the stresses of life, and turning down the volume of our inner thoughts, we begin to explore the wonder of the woodland. You will hear birds chirping, water flowing gently down a stream, branches swaying in the breeze and you will see trees, foliage and moss, all in enumerable shades of green.

And you may choose to join the walk from your back garden, inside your home or from a park or woodland nearby? I wonder if you will notice Mother Nature’s colours, sounds, textures, and shapes in your own environment, perhaps more deeply than before?

We close the walk with a tea ceremony, tea made from foraged plants in the woodland and which Liz offers to you… albeit virtually. It’s also an opportunity to share with the group, if you choose, a few words about your experience and such opportunities are provided during the walk too.

Images of the actual walk

Note: Not all of the images shown above are of the walk on the Broughton Hall Estate

Who is the host?

Throughout her life, Liz has travelled extensively spending many transformational years living in India, trekking the Himalaya, attending silent retreats and personal development courses, taking her on a fascinating journey of self knowledge and understanding. 

Originally from Lancashire, UK, Liz emigrated to California in 1987. She subsequently lived in the Netherlands before returning to Lancashire to study Law and French. This took her to London where she practised law for 11 years but a career for life as a real estate lawyer was not for her!

In 2012, Liz discovered mindfulness and over the course of the following two years, she developed her own mindfulness practice and then trained to teach mindfulness courses. She taught mindfulness in India and the UK and had a busy private practice working with individuals and corporate groups.


However, Liz was drawn to find a practice that combined her extensive learning with her love of nature and is now living her true purpose as a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide (trained and certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy). 

As a guide (not a therapist), Liz helps participants to slow down, to bring attention to their body and their senses, and to the place they are in. A sensuous exchange between the participant and the forest opens the gateway to deeper, more heartfelt relationships with ourselves, with others and with the natural environment.

Liz offers guided forest bathing walks one-to-one and to public, private and corporate groups on the Broughton Hall Estate, Skipton, Yorkshire, UK. For more information, please see: www.theforestguru.co.uk /  https://www.broughtonhall.co.uk/

What are people saying?

Even during lockdown, Liz is able to beautifully bring the outdoors into our living rooms. Enabling us to be virtually connected to others and a chance to explore the eternal wonder of nature from a new angle. An hour or so of slowing down to fully appreciate what we so often take for granted. The colours, the sounds, the textures, the shapes of forest life. Calming and refreshing - thanks Liz.
Richard, UK

Thank you so much for organising and engagingly leading the virtual Forest Bathing walk with such a comfortable and easy manner. I really enjoyed it and I can see how it would be a powerful experience for helping people connect or reconnect with the natural world, as it did with me, from the comfort of my own back garden.
Tom, Ireland

"It was such a wonderful experience joining the forest walk yesterday. The virtual tour of the forest with you was a really blissful experience that I enjoyed sitting in my room, virtually connected to many others from across the globe during this lockdown. I was amazed to hear the sounds of lambs bleating, birds chirping, the rustling of grass, the flowing of water down the stream, and so many trees, wild growth, flowers, foliage and moss, all in innumerable shades of green. Very meditative calming and joyous. Thank you for this experience and thank God for forests!
Hemant, India

It felt nourishing to take part in Liz’s virtual Forest Bathing and to connect with others. I enjoyed her fun, relaxed manner. To be able to appreciate and share what is around me in my garden, the sounds, the colours, the movement of the gentle breeze on the plants and trees. It made my garden sanctuary even more special at this time of lockdown.
Karen, UK

Just wanted to say thank you for bringing a little of the forest into my lockdown life today. It was a lovely way to commune with nature and with other people who wish to experience the peace of the forest.
Michelle, UK

Liz will guide you on a journey through the senses in a way that deepens your connection to all in nature that surrounds you. I chose to stay inside for this virtual experience in order to reconnect with my beloved house plant babies. I noticed colours within my Aloe Vera that I had never noticed before and I'm sure my Peace Lily is so much happier for the connected experience. I know I am.
Jane, UK

Schedule

All walks are scheduled for UK time.

• 23rd April: 3pm till 4.30pm

• 29th April: 3pm till 4.30pm

• 6th May: 3pm till 4pm

• 9th May: 10am till 11.30am

• 13th May: 3pm till 4.30pm

• 20th May: 3pm till 4.30pm

• 23rd May: 10am till 11.30am