The importance of our relationship to land, plants, and place is rooted in ancestral Indigenous Knowledge all over the world. Experience an integrative mindfulness practice that honors this ancestral wisdom. You will be given directions, in the form of an invitation, to assist you in slowing down, relaxing, and observing with all of your senses. It is a kind of nervous system reset that has the potential to remind us of the Interconnection of All Things and our relationship to the Earth. You may begin to notice things in a way that you may never have noticed them before. Experience the holistic health benefits of Forest Bathing such as enhanced immunity, lowered blood pressure, lowered cortisol concentrations, increased focus, enhanced creativity, and activate the parasympathetic nervous system to support your body in engaging its own restorative processes. You are the medicine. Tu eres la medicina. The event ends with a sharing of tea and some healthy snacks.
Elena Rios is an ANFT Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide, Interdisciplinary Artist, Cultural Practitioner, and Wildland Fire Professional
** Scholarships Availalbe - Please Inquire **
Please:
- Avoid strong perfumes, as they can affect sensory perception of smells in nature
- Leave your dog at home
What to bring:
- Water
- Important medications (bring EpiPen if you are allergic to wasp, hornet, or bee stings)
- Comfortable closed toe walking shoes. (Boots that cover up the ankle are recommended during rattlesnake season in early spring and summer.)
- Comfortable layered clothing so you may adjust to weather and/or temperature as needed.
- A day pack, back pack, fanny pack, OR “easy to carry” bag in which to keep your things.
Optional considerations:
- You will be invited to sit on the ground at times. There may (or may not) be chairs or benches. It may (or may not) be damp in certain places. Some people like to bring something to sit on like a “lightweight folding camping stool”, a “sit-upon”, a yoga mat, or a towel that is easy to carry. Some people don’t bring anything at all. It is up to you.
- Insect repellent (seasons change, and opinions vary.)
- A walking stick if you find it helpful. Terrain may vary and be rocky or uneven.
- Sun hat and sunscreen
- A journal for writing or sketching