Spark of Nature

09/12/2022

Fall is here. Fall can be a time of renewal, reset and change. But also a time of letting going and grieving.

When in nature this can be overwhelming during this time of year. Take time to sit, breathe in and out. And find a leaf that calls to you. Maybe this leaf has something to share with you. Maybe this leaf has a story that makes you laugh, reflect, smile or inspire. I invite you to find your autumn leaf this season.

08/25/2022

💚🌿 Within our training we are required to do a 4 day in person intensive immersion training. Lots of it is spent within the forest. We actually spent 3 hours a day for 4 days forest bathing.
The wonderful aspect of forest bathing is it has a magical way of making you vulnerable. It has a way of opening your heart. It has a way of helping you with your grief work (I call it grief work because majority of our lives are spent grieving and working to understand). It helps you to connect. To let your guard down. To be. To look forward. To re-orient.

I’m not only grateful for the opportunity to do my immersion. But each and every person I met during those 4 days I hold so specially in my heart. Our life journeys are so diverse. But we came together fully in nature.

I love and miss you all. My close and dear forest friends. 💚🌿

08/24/2022

What is forest therapy/forest bathing/shinrin yoku?

Forest bathing and forest therapy (or shinrin-yoku) broadly means taking in, in all of one’s senses, the forest atmosphere. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest. It was developed in Japan during the 1980s, and in 1982 Japan made this form of mobile meditation under the canopy of living forests a part of its national health program. Researchers, primarily in Japan and South Korea, have established a growing body of scientific literature on the diverse health benefits.

(https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wellnessevidence/forest-bathing/)

All people can practice forest bathing on their own. Participating in a walk with a certified guide has many added benefits as a guide will lead you through guided sequences to deepen your connection, sensory experience and support the reciprocity between you and the natural world. Forest bathing with a guide such as myself typically lasts minimum 2 hours but can go up to 3 hours. As guides, we find that the longer the walk/experience, the more benefits you can receive.

For more information you can check out the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, where I was trained through:

https://www.natureandforesttherapy.earth

🌿

08/24/2022

Who am I?

First off, thank you for following my page and having some curiosity about who I am and also curiosity around Forest Therapy/Bathing (aka. Shinrin yoku).
My name is Bethany and I currently live in the beautiful city of Edmonton, Alberta.
Back in 2020 when we were in the thick of the global pandemic of COVID19, I felt at a cross roads in terms of my job, my hobbies, my passions and dreams. I needed something more to fill my heart and soul. So I went searching for it. I’ve long found solace, wisdom, peace and reflection within nature since I was a little girl. I used to have a favourite tree in my parents backyard; I’d sit in it for hours, just letting my imagination go and also writing endless make believe stories. That tree was my special place for many years. As an adult, I have found more special places amongst the trees, nature and our beautiful diverse landscape. When things get hard in life, I go to the outdoors. When I need time to recharge and reconnect, that’s where I go. It seemed natural to explore this connection further, so I did some digging online and found a training program that sounded fascinating, different, challenging, and something that just seemed to fit. So in late 2020 I completed 6 months of training to be a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide. And as of 2022 I completed additional training for my full certification.
Since 2020, I have had the opportunities to guide walks with individuals, children and groups from time to time. As with most people, life got busy and my passion project was put on hold. I’m so excited now because I am in a place where I feel that I can dedicate more time and resources to guiding more often now. additional background info on some of my skills is I hold a Bachelors Degree in Human Ecology with a major in Family Studies and minor in Child and Youth care. With my knowledge and career skills, I have also been able to infuse my walks with aspects of child development opportunities, supporting individuals from a place of compassion, and understanding nuances of human behaviour and emotions when working together with the forest. I am so excited to walk with you in your journey of reconnecting with nature 🌿

08/24/2022

Welcome to my page. It’s been a long time coming but I’m hoping to get my Forest Therapy Guiding off the ground this coming Fall.

Please message if you have an interest in being guided on a walk. All walks are typically 2 hours in length. Cost is roughly $25 per person.

Everything is still a work in progress so please be patient with me. In the meantime I hope to provide ongoing content related to the practice of “shinrin yoku”/forest bathing and other information related to forest wellness.

Thank you forest friends,
Bethany 🌿

08/24/2022

I will be starting to guide walks this coming Fall.. Please connect if you have an interest :)

08/23/2022

“Deepening our relationship with Nature helps us deepen our relationship with ourselves, it helps us find that different way and live truly to who we are.”

08/23/2022