Nature
Connection
The Forest is the Healer
The guide opens the door
The motto of the ANFT by Amos Clifford
(Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides and Training)
Nature and Forest Therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku.
Shinrin Yoku.
In the 1980's Japan was fast becoming a tech based economy and during this period authorities also recognised that there was a spike in illnesses, auto immune diseases and cancers. They knew they needed to do something to stop this spike and started exploring options.
Japan's natural landscape is approx 70% forest and someone simply asked the question " What if we brought people back to spending time in the forests" ? and this is what they did.
They found that the trees emit an aroma called phytoncides when they are under threat and this is whats keeps them safe.
They found that these same phytoncides help to boost the immune system in humans. It helps to produce the white blood cells known as NK cells that flow around the body killing off stresses and cancerous cells. Bearing in mind, that it is not that long in our human existence since that we were living within nature as our natural habitat. So it is understandable that we have not evolved away form needing this environment.
Since then there have been many scientific studies that have found further benefits. Most of these studies have come from Japan and South Korea. Europe including the UK have added a few more recent studies to these and continue today.
Benefits for you …….
Reduced pulse rates
Improved cardiovascular system
Changes in the presence of anti-cancer proteins
Improvements in the respiratory system
Decrease sympathetic nervous system activity and intern increase in the the parasympathetic nervous system activity (our rest and digest)
Breathing fresh air helps the brain regulate serotonin levels, promoting greater happiness and wellbeing.
A balancing of blood pressure
Release of mood enhancing chemicals from looking up at the sky, also soil as a natural anti-depressant
Sea air increases negative ion intake - Negative ions speed up our ability to absorb oxygen and can help balance our serotonin levels, which leaves us more relaxed and happy.
You can read more stories about benefits and studies in our science section of Nature Notes CLICK HERE
DAILY
INVITATIONS
Each year we hold a couple of Nature Connection weeks. These are programs that offer you daily invitations to continue your Nature Connection between longer periods in Nature.
There are various activities that we can do, to continue to build our relations and connections with all things nature, including our own inner Nature.
Each program series is different, with the different seasons - they also bring a community together which helps to share and enrich our journeys.
We can also offer you one to one coaching to both tailor a practice and help you to integrate this into your life.
“Forest Bathing helped me slow down, relax and connect with nature, which I really needed.” ~ NH
High demands and daily stresses have become a norm!
Today, we spend so much of our lives on high alert, within the work environment and our homes; constantly attached to technology and various alerts for one thing or another. Our lives are so busy and so full – trying to find the time for ourselves can feel too hard.
Before we know it – we are at discord with ourselves, lost direction, feel in a rut of mundane, un-nourishing, an energy zapping existence. We have lost ourselves – we are no longer aligned to our needs and even when we start to notice this – it just seems to create even more discord – and our inner critic has a field day!
Spending time with Nature is about giving ourselves permission to have space away from the demands and expectations; often that we have placed on ourselves. It's about having a moment of pause and in doing so, feeling alive in ourselves and yet remembering how safe we feel when cocooned within our inner stillness.
It's about returning back to nature, connecting and being a part of our natural world; the complete natural world that includes all of earths nature and her living beings.
It’s about taking time to slow down. When we slow our body down, our movement down - our mind follows and our whole being starts to find a natural rythym.
What to Expect?
You will be guided throughout and offered a variety of invitations that will lead you gently to slowing down whilst awakening each and every one of your senses.
Taking time to observe, notice and maybe hear a crackle of a twig or a leaf rustling in the breeze or a wave crashing to shore.
Hearing the birds and noticing that when we become more still, how their behaviour changes towards us.
It is smelling and inhaling the natural aroma of the trees and plants, the phytoncides, that in these essential oils by themselves can offer us so much increase in wellbeing.
Each session lasts approx 3 hours which gives time to really feel the calmness and sense of peacefulness within.
Participants say that they feel a sense of calm and rejuvenation after spending this time together in nature.
“As soon as you step into it, it felt as though it was enfolding me. It helped me switch off ” ~ JH
Ways that you can join
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Public Groups
We run public groups in the the North and North East Lincolnshire Woodlands and coastline. With permissions from Woodland Trust, Councils - these specially picked areas offer a peaceful serenity to experience this practice for yourself. Each session lasts for approx 3 hours.
Just three public offerings in 2024. - Dont miss out.
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Private - Coaching and Mentoring
Private individualised coaching sessions are offered on a half and full day basis. These are tailored to your specific needs and with the help of nature often provide the necessary focus and clarity for transformation.
Our mentoring sessions take you a stage further and work with you over a period of time to help you to establish a nature based stress reduction program that builds your resilience and increases wellbeing.
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Workplace Wellbeing
High demands and stress is on the rise and incorporating a wellbeing programme within your company is becoming increasingly a necessitate.
Our Nature wellbeing sessions both in groups and individually can be tailored to be part of your Wellbeing programme.
They can be booked for a series of short sessions or half days and also virtually to access at any time within your workplace.
They can also be a great addition for team building days.
Join our weekend retreat for Nature & Meditation - CHECK OUT OUR 2026 DATES ~
Join our weekend retreat for Nature & Meditation - CHECK OUT OUR 2026 DATES ~
Our next weekend is booked the weekend of April 11th - 13th 2025.
April 2025 - is FULLY BOOKED
We will be offering a further weekend retreat on April 24 - 26th 2026.
We will be based in the Whitby area where our weekend will be focussed around stillness, soundscapes, meditations and Nature Therapy.
A weekend of slow, pause and time away from our busy lives.
As always we will offer this to a small group to ensure we create our unique community of like minded individuals.
“We were guided to use all our senses to tune into things that you wouldn't normally consciously notice.” ~ EH
“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.”
- John Muir
WELLBEING DAYS
Nurturing Nature days designed to boost your wellbeing.
Includes Nature/Forest Bathing, Soundscapes, Breath work, EcoNidra, SelfCare, Stillness , Mindful Creativity and Story Weaving.
Bringing Nature to your home.
7 Day Nature Connection Series
Self paced - to access on your own and at your own pace.
They run for 7 days and can be completed at any time of the day. Each day you will receive a new video or audio that will show you a different technique to use for your own practice. This is based on the sit spot practice, a practice within a practice.
A great way to explore nature connection from the comfort of your own home.
This is currently running via Insight Timer for members. Members can access for free.
Meet your Nature Coach & Guide
Maria is an ANFT Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide and Coach, Shinrin- Yoku Practitioner, EcoNidra Teacher, Flower Essence Practitioner, Therapeutic Writing & Story Weaving and Mindfulness / Compassion Teacher. ( Plus others that deepen and compliment the above).
She is the founder of Mindful Connections where she facilitates both individual, group and private experiences to help increase balance, stillness and much needed rest.
She works with public groups, 1:1 individual coaching & mentoring basis and with a number of corporate teams to help promote workforce wellbeing, balance and resilience.
After a period of work related burn out in 2001 and 2002, Maria found a path to her own restoration, during a solo journey along the West Coast of Ireland. She is dedicated to helping others find their own balance, stillness and rediscovery through the healing power of Nature and connection, natural silence and self care practices.
