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.

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 

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/

This year, Philippa Bassett trained to become a Forest Bathing+ Guide like Joanna. Her blog outlines the approach and appeal of Forest Bathing+ and her motivation for taking it up. Reproduced with her permission, here is her take on the delights of Shinrin-Yoku.

This time last year, if you had asked me what my plans were for future courses, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have mentioned training to become a Forest Bathing+ Guide!

However, after a year working with The Forest Bathing Institute (TFBI), I have learned so much about the science behind the benefits of practising Shinrin-Yoku (the Japanese term) for Forest Bathing+, that I am now on my journey to becoming a fully-fledged TFBI Forest Bathing+ Guide myself!

Forest Bathing+ is essentially spending time relaxing under the canopy of trees, the health giving benefits of which have been scientifically evidenced over the last 40 years, particularly in Japan. Here, forest bathing is regularly prescribed by their NHS system as a preventative healthcare measure for mental health and general physical well-being.

Forest Bathing is also prevalent in South Korea, where overnight retreats and specific ‘trails of healing’ help stressed out executives’ re-charge from their daily life under the health-giving canopy of an accredited woodland environment.

But this is not new to me. At some level, I feel that I am returning to my roots with Forest Bathing+. Having grown up by the sea in a rural part of South Wales, I spent a lot of time in the woods at the back of my grandparents’ house, where we used to walk under the woodland canopy to the local beaches. Climbing and playing in trees formed a large part of my childhood, and this connection has been re-kindled by attending Forest Bathing+ events. The feeling of calmness and relaxation following several hours of mindfulness in the forest is a great benefit to one’s general health and well-being.

The catalyst for deciding to become a Forest Bathing+ Guide was attending the Mindfulness and Meditation Training which took place in mid-March, just before the Covid 19 lockdown. Due to the self-isolation restrictions, the theory behind Forest Bathing+ was conducted online, which gave me more time to focus on the benefits. During the course, I was really surprised to learn so many interesting facts about the science of ancient forests, their chemical structure, the wood wide web and many more fascinating nuggets of information.

I am very interested in natural healing and healthcare having worked in this area for over 6 years. Learning about the natural healing ability of the forests and woodland reinforced my passion and I now feel committed to attracting more people, of all ages, to experience the wonders of immersive nature therapy and spend quality, mindful time in the beautiful woodlands and ancient forests that are such an integral part of the UK’s natural landscape.

I would thoroughly recommend the Forest Bathing training to anyone who also has a passion for nature, the environment and general health and well-being.

Photo credits: Forest Bathing images showing a track through a Surrey woodland and bluebell woods, taken by Philippa Bassett.

*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

As many of our Blog readers will know, Joanna Bristow-Watkins from Harmony Healing trained as a Forest Bathing+ Guide with TFBI in 2019. Joanna will be writing a future Blog about Forest Bathing, but when her colleague Philippa published this Blog, she sought permision to use it as her first Guest Blog.

Forest Bathing Sessions bring harmony and balance into your life. Joanna and other qualified TFBI guides are now tentatively offering small group Forest Bathing+ Sessions at Newlands Corner (near Guildford) with additional social distancing and other protocols to minimise COVID risks. 

Harmony Healing utilises the philosophies of the Ancient Egyptians to bring balance and harmony.  It was a key part of ancient Egyptian life to be connected with nature and all of the Deities represented manifestations of nature.  Even our own word 'nature' is likely to be derived from their word 'Neter' generally translated as God.

A number of virtual courses are starting again this month, including Reyad Sekh Em (RSE) Egyptian Alchemy Healing Level 1, which is now fully available as interactive training modules, details on Harmony Healing Virtual Events. 

To receive regular Blog updates (headed with a title detailing the occasion or event so that you can choose whether to open it or not), featuring New and Full Moon, meteor showers, eclipses and other meteorological events, interesting anniversaries, ancient festival dates plus notification of dates of numerological significance, sign up for the Harmony Healing e-newsletters above or at the top of any page of this Harmony Healing website. The nature of the Blog means that whenever there are several key dates in close succession, there will be frequent mailings. The sender e-mail address is (and the sender will show as Joanna Bristow-Watkins @ Harmony Healing). You may need to add this email to your safe list and check your junk filter initially.

Tuesday 21st March is International Day of Forests, sponsored by the United Nations. The 2023 theme for International Day of Forests is "Forests for Health." 

Forests are home to more that 60,000 tree species; comprising about 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity.

In fact, 1.6 billion people are directly dependent on forests for their shelter, food, medicines, income and energy. Alarmingly, we are losing around 10 million hectares of global forest annually (the size of Iceland) and this is said to accounts for 12-20% of greenhouse gas emissions thought to contribute to our climate change.

Whilst some have retained a strong affinity with nature, many have become disconnected. Ancient civilisations venerated the natural world, gaining much wisdom from observing in nature. Contemporary research is now highlighting the physiological benefits of time spent in natural surroundings. Trees emit phytoncides, which we are now refining into essential oils into the atmosphere, which have been proven to encourage relaxation as well as other wellbeing benefits. By engaging with natural forest environments, we can re-connect with nature, renewing our relationship with our natural habitat and appreciating any wildlife within it.

As a qualified Forest Bathing guide, I am delighted to see Forests being recognised for their wellbeing benefits and valuable biodiversity and efforts being made to protect dwindling international woodlands. 

Forest Bathing is the traditional translation of the Japanese term ‘Shinrin Yoku’, which refers to immersion under a canopy of trees. Practised for over 30 years to alleviate high levels of stress felt by Japanese executives in busy urban districts; Forest Bathing combines meditation and mindfulness with gentle exercise; all within an ambient forest environment.

Offering a unique chance to reconnect both with nature and with ourselves, there is growing evidence that Forest Bathing can:

• Reduce stress
• Regulate blood pressure
• Improve metabolic and cardiovascular health
• Improve anti-cancer protein production
• Support weight loss
• Increase concentration and memory
• Lower blood-sugar levels
• Lift depression
• Alleviate pain thresholds
• Improve energy levels
• Boost the immune system by increasing the body’s NK (Natural Killer) cell count

Katie and I (together we run Harmony in Nature) will be celebrating by running a Nature Connection session at Cannon Hill Common, London SW20

See you soon in Surrey Woodlands?

We are so lucky to have woodland making up around 25% of our landscepe here in Surrey. If you aren't local to us, make an effort to go and connect with your local woodlands and beautyspots and naise awareness for the need to appreciate our natural resources. It takes hundreds of years for woodland to build their ecosystems and create an effective communication network; it's a misnomer that we can make up for cutting down established woods with a few newly planted trees.

Within Surrey, via Harmony In Nature, we facilitate regular Forest Bathing Sessions (click limk for venues and dates) to help adults reconnect with nature and reap the therapeutic benefits. If you aren't already on our email list to receive monthly Harmony in Nature updates, and would like to be added, click on the mailing list link above.

If you run a local meet-up or social group and are looking for professsional speakers (virtual or in person), please contact me if you would like a presentation on Forest Bathing.

Harmony Healing utilises the philosophies of the Ancient Egyptians, in the form of Reyad Sekh Em (RSE) Egyptian Alchemy Healing, to bring balance and harmony. Reyad Sekh Em (RSE) Level 1 -our recent interactive training module Violet Flame of Amenti (completed 9th March). Missed sessions are fully recorded so that late registrations are possible.

Through Harmony Healing, Joanna offers a wider spectrum of events designed to nurture your welbeing. If you are looking for regular spiritually enlightening activities which help to connect you with the lunar cycle, we have our monthly Full Moon Guided Healing Meditations. The next one is Wednesday 5th April at 7.30-9.30pm (UK time = GMT+1). Participants all receive a deeply healing experience. Cost to participate is £20 by online BACS payment (£1 admin fee added for PayPal) or half price to RSE graduates. There are multi-buy packages for regular attendees. Book at the Harmony Shop.

Other services
Within Surrey, via Harmony In Nature, we facilitate Forest Bathing Sessions to help adults reconnect with nature and reap the therapeutic benefits.

MP3 meditations and distant readings and healings are proving popular and we offer Harmony Healing Vouchers for any value for use on Harmony Healing services andHarmony in Nature vouchers for Forest Bathing vouchers (£35).

To receive regular Blog updates (headed with a title detailing the occasion or event so that you can choose whether to open it or not), featuring New and Full Moon, meteor showers, eclipses and other meteorological events, interesting anniversaries, ancient festival dates plus notification of dates of numerological significance, sign up for the Harmony Healing e-newsletters above or at the top of any page of this Harmony Healing website. The nature of the Blog means that whenever there are several key dates in close succession, there will be frequent mailings. The sender e-mail address is  (and the sender will show as Joanna Bristow-Watkins @ Harmony Healing). You may need to add this email to your safe list and check your junk filter initially.

Last weekend was the Equinox, so at last, Spring is in the air and we can feel optimistic about the summer.

Things have been very hectic for me having embraced a transition to Zoom virtual format shortly after lockdown a year ago.

Since last March, there have been continuous enrolments for my RSE (Reyad Sekh Em©) Egyptian Alchemy healing training courses. Especially the Introductory Level although 10 have gone onto become qualified RSE Practitioners and are working towards advanced practitioner training. I couldn't be happier on that front, after almost 23 years in the healing fraternity, the most amazing community of healers and trainee healers has emerged. I dreamt of this but to have it materialise is fantastic.  And the talent amongst them is incredible; if you are looking to develop latent (or extend existing) healing skills, do join us.  Here's two of the recently qualified super capable practitioners telling their stories on You Tube: Benjamin (a hairdresser, aged 21, unable to work during lockdown) and Agata (a practising NHS physiotherapist) tell their stories (less than 15 mins in total). 

Most important is the desire to run an active team of lightworkers and make a difference in the world, especially considering the desperate global environment.  If you are familiar with the work of David Hawkins and Owen Waters, you will know that working on your own spiritual consciousness is one of the most productive steps we can make as individuals regarding improving global wellbeing. See my short YouTube presentation for more on this. 

Monthly Full Moon Meditation 

We hold monthly Full Moon Virtual Guided Meditations, the next ones are Sunday 28th March, Monday 26th April & Wednesday 26th May. Other dates are listed on the Harmony Healing website until the end of the year.  These cost £22 via PayPal (£20 if paid via BACS bank transfer) and act as a great low investment introduction to my work. 

New Moon New Vision: lunar cycle connection programme

Very soon, Monday 12th April - Tuesday 11th May, we have our coveted New Moon New Vision; lunar cycle alignment programme re-starting, cost is £155 (+ £7.50 admin fee if paid via PayPal). This was run earlier in the year featuring daily angelic affirmations, weekly meditations and several distant attunements to enhance your energetic connection to the sun, moon, earth, planets and stars plus the current Western and Chinese zodiacs. We simultaneously learn, though 10+ hours of virtual Zoom mentoring, to work with the energies of the moon cycle and each person creates a Vision Board for 2021 & beyond. Multiple participants found it a 'life changing for the better'. More at Harmony Healing Website and a YouTube informational video (about 15 mins) with feedback from three of the group members and here's what another had to say as the last course reached the final week: 

"As we're almost at the end of the course, but still the beginning of a journey, I thought I'd share a few of the things that have changed for me during this moon cycle.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 

I have more space within... I can literally feel it - possibly as a result of the Soul Star and Earth Star Chakras attunement, and also because of the releasing that has been happening over the last 2 weeks.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 

I have recovered a routine which brings about a more productive day.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My brain has tuned into the fact that I need to lose weight... I've let go of snacking, I'm having beautiful detox baths and have done the oil pulling. I am doing daily dance exercises.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I am meditating more and got back on track with daily self-Reiki.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I'm seeing the bigger picture.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I am generally more focused.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Such positive stuff for everyday living! ♥"⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Yvonne Oaks, Light From Within, London, 10th Feb 2021🎈 

Forest Bathing+ Sessions in leafy Surrey

Earlier this week, Monday 21st March was International Day of Forests and I'm delighted to announce that we will be able to offer Forest Bathing+ sessions in Surrey again, starting on 17th April at Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary (Shere) and 22nd April at Newlands Corner (near Guildford).See event dates listed up to July on the Harmony Website, please do join us for one or more of these enjoyable and therapeutic experiences.

I will also offer another series of RSE (Reyad Sekh Em©) Egyptian Alchemy healing training courses over the summer. Our current course finished yesterday (25th March), so I will wait and see whether they want to progress immediately onto RSE 2 Practitioner which will mean a delay before the next introductory series.

So that's a summary of what we are offering for the next 3-4 months, if you aren't already and feel inspired to join our active Lightworker Community, think about joining one of the activities above or sign up for the Celestial Forecast Blog email updates.  Subscribers receive reminders of the New Moon, Full Moon, Meteor showers, dates of numerological significance (three '555' dates coming up in May, one of which is included in the New Moon New Vision Course), Pagan, Egyptian, Roman and other religious festivals as well as international celebrations.

Whatever you do, have a happy spring & summer.

If you would like to experience one of our spiritual offerings (meditation, reading, 1:1 healing, a Forest Bathing+ session or a full mentoring course), why not ask for a Harmony Healing gift voucherfor a birthday or other celebratory occasion? 

A number of virtual courses are now ready, details on Harmony Healing Virtual Events. Currently, due to Coronavirus, most events will be virtual hence distant readings and healings are proving popular. We don't recommend giving a reading or healing to another person, without first checking whether it would be welcomed.

Joanna offers distant intuitive readings (past life and/or aura readings) and distant 1-2-1 healings and virtual healing circles. We also have meditations available.

To receive regular Blog updates (headed with a title detailing the occasion or event so that you can choose whether to open it or not), featuring New and Full Moon, meteor showers, eclipses and other meteorological events, interesting anniversaries, ancient festival dates plus notification of dates of numerological significance, sign up for the Harmony Healing e-newsletters above or at the top of any page of this Harmony Healing website. The nature of the Blog means that whenever there are several key dates in close succession, there will be frequent mailings. The sender e-mail address is (and the sender will show as Joanna Bristow-Watkins @ Harmony Healing). You may need to add this email to your safe list and check your junk filter initially.