Your Guide
Kelly Bruce is a writer, freelance adventurer and mermaid at heart. She is a fifth generation Floridian with a degree in communications from Florida Atlantic University. While her career path includes journalism and public relations, her true passion is spending time in nature and inspiring people to get outside. She is based near Asheville, North Carolina and leads forest bathing and nature therapy experiences throughout the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. Kelly's guiding journey began in 2016 in Colorado while teaching snowboarding and snowshoeing to people of all ages with various cognitive and developmental disabilities through an adaptive sports program. Often working with the visually impaired, she would turn their snowshoe walks into a sensory experience. When she learned of forest therapy, she instantly felt called to become a certified guide and help people connect to the natural world in all seasons. In 2018, she began her training in Sonoma, California with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, followed by a six month intensive practicum. She's thrilled to share the practice of forest bathing and nature therapy with the global community. Kelly is also a Forest Therapy Trail Certification Consultant, a Certified Interpretive Guide with National Association for Interpretation. She is Wilderness First Aid and CPR certified by the American Red Cross. 
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Wander into Wellness
The mission of Natural Wanders is to cultivate a deeper connection with nature, community and Self. Join us for a forest bathing and nature therapy experience in the Asheville, North Carolina area or from the comfort of your own yard or local park through a remotely guided experience. Services Forest Bathing and Nature Therapy Retreats - Group, Private and Couples Packages - Corporate Retreats - Workshops and Wellness Retreats - Remotely Guided Forest Bathing and Nature Therapy live via Zoom Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Consultant About Forest Bathing and Nature Therapy Although the practice of nature and forest therapy is inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of "forest bathing," our form of forest therapy refers to spending time in nature in a way that invites healing for both us, our fraught ecosystems and our community. Scientific studies prove that spending time in nature is good for our body and mind. In fact, trees produce organic compounds called phytoncides, a natural defense against disease and parasites. We reap the rewards when we inhale these compounds which boost our natural killer (NK) cells, helping to prevent and fight illness and disease. The practice of nature and forest therapy emphasizes the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in a forest or natural environment. The forest is the therapist. Your certified forest therapy guide opens the door. Together, we’ll restore our relationship with ourselves and the land with a slow, gentle walk (2 - 3 hours), enhancing our health, wellness, happiness and creativity. We'll end with a tea ceremony featuring a wildcrafted infusion of local plants and snacks. Upon departure, we’ll have an enhanced appreciation for the natural world and a practice we can apply in our daily lives. It's amazing what nature reveals when we give ourselves permission to slow down, quiet our minds and awaken our senses. Read more about the benefits of nature. 
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