Sessions differ based on what you as the client or group of clients want to get out of them, the space we meet in and the season and weather. After a quick introduction about forest bathing and what you would like to gain from your session, I like to guide you through a short mindfulness practice – often a body scan – to help us settle into the session and transition from our busy lives into a calmer space.
I may then invite you to move into some gentle movements based on a chi kung sequence. I talk you through it all at a manageable pace and demonstrate each movement. Or we may move our bodies in a different way – growing from a tightly packed acorn to a majestic oak tree, perhaps.
After that a typical session will move on to a slow walk through the forest focusing on using all our senses to really take notice of everything around us. We’ll look up at the sky through the canopy, listen to the birds and the breeze, feel the textures of different trees and leaves – and even give some of them a good sniff.
Then it’s time for you to find a sit spot and take some time for yourself. If you’re a meditator, you may choose to practise now. If you prefer, you can stick with your senses and see what you notice when you sit in quiet stillness for a moment. Some may like to take the opportunity to write or sketch.
And, most importantly, we finish up with a cuppa and a biscuit and a chance to reflect on what we’ve experienced. There’s nettle tea for those who want to take the experience to the next level, but it’s not compulsory – I make sure there’s good old PG Tips and coffee available too.