This year, I want to turn Valentine’s Day on its head. Forget about cupid, candy and flowers. It’s time to show yourself some love. I’m not talking about brunch or a bubble bath. I want to encourage you to do something that truly fills your heart with joy and brings peace to your life. It doesn’t matter if you’re single or in a relationship… it’s time to find your own individual spark and love yourself unconditionally.
 
What makes your heart sing? Make time this week to explore this idea, then set a date with yourself. Maybe it’s a paddle on your favorite lake or river, a stroll through a botanical garden, birdwatching in a nature preserve, a bike ride on a scenic trail… these are just a few examples to get the juices flowing, but the sky is the limit!
 
For me, it’s dipping my toes in the ocean, maybe finding some sea glass or pretty shells as I stroll along the beach. It's not a brisk walk for fitness, this is a leisurely wander where I breathe in the salty air, let the rolling waves soothe my soul, maybe watch the sun rise or set. Before I part, I’ll pick up some litter, a little token of reciprocity and love to return to Mother Earth.
 
Need some inspiration? Join me for a remotely guided nature therapy experience at 10 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, Feb. 14 where we’ll focus on self-love and self-care. Indulge in this restorative sensory experience, live via Zoom. This heart-centered approach to forest bathing supports overall wellbeing and cultural repair by fostering a deeper relationship with the earth, yourself and the global community.

​Join from the comfort of your own yard or living room as your guide broadcasts live from the restorative Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The experience culminates in a virtual tea ceremony. Detailed instructions provided upon registration.

Register here, then click on Virtual Forest Bathing and Nature Therapy. Suggested donation: $20. This practice is available to everyone, regardless of economic status. Pay what you can afford. If you're facing financial hardship, email [email protected] to request a full scholarship. If you're a health care provider or veteran, I thank you for your service. Email [email protected] for your complimentary promo code.

About the Author
Kelly Bruce is a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide/Trail Consultant and the founder of Natural Wanders. She leads forest bathing and nature therapy walks in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. Subscribe to her e-newsletter for more inspiration from nature and to learn about upcoming walks, workshops and retreats. Each Wednesday, she’ll provide inspiration to help you wander into wellness, naturally. In the meantime, follow along on Instagram and Facebook. 
Photography by @zailaffitte. 

We could all use some self-care these days. Forest bathing and nature therapy is a wellness practice sweeping the globe that’s accessible to everyone. All you have to do is go outside!

The Japanese art of forest bathing, or Shinrin Yoku, is the restorative practice of immersing oneself in nature, inviting healing for the body and mind. Participants who go forest bathing with a certified nature and forest therapy guide will learn to quiet their minds, awaken their senses, and discover new methods to make the most of every future outdoor experience.

Each session begins with a guided meditation, followed by a slow, gentle walk, then a series of thoughtfully crafted activities that invite participants to experience nature in a new way. The experience culminates in a tea ceremony where everyone has an opportunity to share their observations and experiences.

Participants report feeling a sense of peace and calm, a new perspective about the natural world, and many who are not usually comfortable in nature say they feel safe and inspired with gentle instruction and guidance.
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For those who can’t make it to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to experience a forest bathing walk in person, we now offer virtual forest bathing live via Zoom. In an effort to make this practice available to everyone, I’ve priced these sessions on a sliding scale. Pay what you can afford, or request a scholarship. Register here and click on Virtual Forest Bathing and Nature Therapy.

About the Author
Kelly Bruce is a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide/Trail Consultant and the founder of Natural Wanders. She leads forest bathing and nature therapy walks in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. Subscribe to her e-newsletter for more inspiration from nature and to learn about upcoming walks, workshops and retreats. Each Wednesday, she’ll provide inspiration to help you wander into wellness, naturally. In the meantime, follow along on Instagram and Facebook. 
Photography by @zailaffitte.

UPDATE Sept. 1, 2020: FIND Outdoors has suspended programming. Click here for more information on remotely guided/virtual tours with Natural Wanders. 

Staying home never felt so good. Natural Wanders and FIND Outdoors are bringing the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the world in an effort to foster a sense of calmness and community. Virtual forest bathing and nature therapy walks will take place Saturdays, alternating between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST, hosted live via Zoom by Kelly Bruce, a certified forest therapy guide.

The Japanese art of forest bathing, or Shinrin Yoku, is the restorative practice of immersing oneself in nature, inviting healing for the body and mind. From the comfort of their own yard or living room, participants will quiet their minds and awaken their senses with a guided meditation and a slow, gentle walk. A series of thoughtfully crafted activities invite participants to experience nature in a new way. The event culminates in a virtual tea ceremony where everyone can share their observations and experiences.

FIND Outdoors, formerly the Cradle of Forestry Interpretive Association, has devoted half a century to education and recreation in the outdoors through partnerships and community involvement. “FIND Outdoors is entering a new era of education and we’re excited to bring this innovative practice to the global community,” says Natalie Britt, Find Outdoors’ executive director. “Our priority is the health of our visitors, program participants and staff. Virtual forest bathing and nature therapy enables us to continue fulfilling our mission safely and in a socially responsible manner. We look forward to offering virtual experiences during this pandemic and beyond.”

“These are unprecedented times and we need nature and community now more than ever,” Bruce explains. “Virtual forest bathing is a wonderful form of self-care for people of all ages and abilities. While technology is bringing us together, the idea is to unplug and connect to the land in your own backyard. Sharing this experience simultaneously with people around the world builds a sense of togetherness and well-being.”

Detailed instructions on how to participate are provided upon registration. Donations are accepted and appreciated to ensure that FIND Outdoors can continue providing the public with connections to our natural world. Register at GoFINDOutdoors.org.

About FIND Outdoors
FIND Outdoors, formerly Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association, is a 47-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Pisgah Forest, NC at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest. FIND’s mission promotes educational, recreational and interpretive opportunities about forest and water resources, natural history, and the Cradle of Forestry in America. FIND Outdoors serves approximately 800,000 visitors each year with over 150 educational and recreational programs, special events, and tours. It manages 21 recreation, education and camping facilities in North Carolina, Georgia and Indiana; offers to the public environmental education programs and forest-related gifts, educational books and other resources; and provides partnership opportunities for the health, safety and education of all forest users on local and regional public and private lands. Learn more at GoFINDOutdoors.org.