General Forest Bathing Information - see Harmony Shop for public session dates and to book
Experience how woodland can help your Physical, Mental & Emotional Health.
To complement Joanna’s spiritual approach to wellbeing, Nature Therapy and Forest Bathing+ combine mindfulness with the beauty and tranquillity of ancient woodlands and local gardens.
Harmony In Nature is run by Katie Robinson & Joanna Bristow-Watkins; both experienced & insured Forest Bathing+ Guides licensed by The Forest Bathing Institute. Operating mostly in Woodland near Guildford, Surrey, they offer 2hr+ public & private sessions.
Join us for an inspirational Forest Bathing+ session in local woodlands, where possible utiilsing ancient or semi-ancient sites. Calming, peaceful and yet intensely powerful, you’ll move slowly through a sequence of sensory exercises and deep meditations that lead to an enhanced state of mindfulness and reconnection with nature.
All Harmony In Nature gatherings for Forest Bathing+ follow the current government guidelines and last a minimum of two hours. Costs from £35 (individual). Private bookings for taster and private sessions available, please enquire for bespoke private or corporate sessions.
See below for more information on Forest Bathing or listen to our Brooklands Radio Forest Bathing podcast interview with Jill Bennett (8½ mins).
For our venues and dates available, and to book a session, see the Harmony Shop Forest Bathing Sessions.
Forest Bathing+
Forest Bathing comes from the Japanese term, ‘Shinrin Yoku’, the process of immersing the human spirit under a canopy of trees. It was developed to mitigate the high levels of stress experienced by businessmen in crowded urban environments and combines mindfulness, meditation and gentle exercise within an ambient forest location.
Ancient civilisations frequently venerated nature and gained insight and wisdom from their relationship with the natural world. Despite the fact that society is now more disconnected from the countryside, research supports the physiological benefits of Forest Bathing. Trees emit essential oils known as ‘phytoncides’ which have been proven to evoke relaxation and wellbeing. By immersing ourselves in ancient woodlands, we re-connect with nature and reinforce this relationship with the natural world.
The Forest Bathing Institute (TFBI) has pioneered the addition of enhanced sensory exercises and deep meditations to create Forest Bathing+, which helps promote mindfulness
Our Harmony in Nature Forest Bathing experience involves a slow exploration of woodland through our senses. Cost is £35 per person for a 3-hour public session. Rates for private sessions are negotiable.
Forest Bathing has been proven to have ongoing health and wellbeing benefits. Backed by global evidence-based studies, especially in Japan, Korea, and more recently in the UK, research (relevant study hyperlinked in each case) shows Forest Bathing has the potential to:
We have been piloting some Forest Bathing sessions for the charity sector and we are currently running a 6-week course for Mind, Woking. Initial feedback five weeks in, is excellent with many health improvements noted amongst participants.
Joanna and Katie feel that with the growth in eco-awareness and the drive for greener businesses there is an opportunity for us as providers with minimal (even positive) environmental impact to be supplying regular wellbeing maintenance sessions to employers/employees including schools and teachers. As Forest Bathing becomes more accepted within the NHS and charity sectors this can only help.
Joanna's interest in Forest Bathing
Joanna grew up in an area dense with ancient woodland, and had the freedom to roam. Much of her childhood was spent playing in those woods with her sister, Fiona, largely unsupervised by adults.
She feels their childish enthusiasm encouraged a love of nature, animals, and woodlands, which laid the foundations for much of her subsequent interests and work.
Have spent 15 years + in senior management specialising in customer care and training, she was suddenly driven by a desire for inner peace and became interested in Ancient Egyptian philosophies and natural healing techniques.
Forest Bathing+ felt like a natural progression. She trained with, and is fully certified, by the Forest Bathing Institute (TFBI), who initiate ground-breaking research on its physiological, immunological, emotional and mental health benefits.
Image shows Katie (left) and Joanna (Right) in Newlands Corner, Guildford.
Katie's interest in Forest Bathing
From a young age Katie spent multiple family holidays walking, youth hostelling and being outdoors whatever the weather, particularly in the Lake District and North Yorkshire Moors, so Katie feels right at home with Forest Bathing.
She has been on two survival courses, and loves learning which wild foods we can forage. She’s been self-employed for much of her working life, so she can do a mix of what she enjoys, which has included editing and dance instructing.
One of the most important things to her is managing her and her family’s health care with natural therapies, enabling them to be mainly independent of the mainstream. She advocates always doing your own research. The key components of her approach to health are nutrition, essential oils, homeopathy and walking amongst greenery; with visits to other practitioners as necessary.
Nature Therapy and Forest Bathing+ Sessions
Forest Bathing + can take place in multiple locations, but most of my sessions take place at Newlands Corner or in the grounds of the Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary, close to the picturesque village of Shere, near Guildford in Surrey.
This Sanctuary focuses on Energy Healing which completely aligns with Forest Bathing+. All sessions take place in ancient woodlands and I will gently take you through a number of mindfulness-based sensory exercises and meditations that will enhance your appreciation of nature through all your senses.
Having spent over two decades working with healing energy (my company, Harmony Healing, was founded in 1999) the importance of nature in health and wellbeing is obvious. I can also run themed sessions incorporating nature angels, which may give you a useful introduction towards spiritual mentoring and expansion, RSE® Egyptian alchemy healing and practitioner training.
Garden Therapy sessions are also available for private and corporate bookings, either in your own garden (if suitable) or in a beautiful garden setting in Surrey.
Contact me for group and corporate Forest Bathing+ and Nature Therapy sessions. Blog updates, with seasonal activities, are emailed out to Harmony Healing subscribers.
Whilst undertaking the mindfulness sensory exercises during the session, participants will be asked to refrain from talking to each other (and avoid other distractions such as mobile phone use) so that all participants can gain the full benefits from the surroundings. Do come along with a friend provided they are keen to adopt the rules (and not seeing it a general catch-up). Please contact me on with queries.
DOGS: Regrettably we cannot accept dogs on our Forest Bathing+ sessions unless they are trained Guide Dogs.
INCLEMENT WEATHER: We operate in all weathers (we just request that you wear appropriate clothing) except winds exceeding 30mph due to safety reasons.
Private Forest Bathing Sessions are available.
Listen to our podcast interview on Forest Bathing with Jill Bennett from Brooklands Radio
For more details about Forest Bathing:-
See my 8.5 minute chat with Fiona Mason of Cuppa Time
https://www.facebook.com/CuppaAndAChat/videos/1134876673567721/
See Emma Reed's reaction after her Forest Bathing+ Session with Joanna
https://www.facebook.com/248959805155973/videos/2373335036220701/
