A Soak In Nature
Forest therapy and nature guiding
Comox Valley, BC
I want to stand by the river in my finest dress. I want to sing, strong and hard, and stomp my feet with a hundred others so that the waters hum with our happiness. I want to dance for the renewal of the world.
~Robin Wall Kimmerer
Forest Therapy is an evidence based therapeutic practice that connects people to nature through gentle sensory based invitations. It is a chance to learn how to give yourself permission to just “be” To wander and explore what feels right for you, all in a beautiful relaxing natural environment.
What is a forest therapy walk?
A guided experience in nature through which we connect to the healing powers of the forest.
By focusing on our senses and slowing down our pace of life while in an optimal environment for healing we begin to give our nervous system a break.
Guided therapy walks cover a short distance and the pace is very slow. Your guide (me) will take you through a series of sensory based invitations to interact with nature followed by a council sharing ( a way to increase awareness and connection by hearing others’ observations and experiences.)
It has been proven. Nature can heal us!
Research over the past 40 years has shown us what we intuitively know. Nature gives us a preventative boost to our immunity and is a prescription for many afflictions.
Meet Your Guide Sky-Hanna Niskasari
I grew up in the interior of BC. Roaming the countryside picking flowers for potions and making forts in the forest. Life was simple and yet full of excitement.
But then I grew up. Life got busy. I forgot about nature. I no longer made time for it. I lived more and more in my mind instead of experiencing life using all my senses.
When I discovered Shin rin-Yoku (Forest Bathing), I was re- introduced to my nature connection, my connection to myself and with others. I fell in love with our earth all over again. I learned to find peace with the mundane parts of my life. I want to connect and experience nature with others! I want to give back to mother Earth, in reciprocity. I feel grateful beyond words for the teachings and guidance that I receive on my forest walks. I made a commitment to Mother Earth. To continue learning how to live in a more harmonious way with nature. To be the bridge between the more than human world, guiding others to a deeper relationship with themselves and to nature.
I enrolled to be a Forest Therapy Guide with GIFT (Global Institute of Forest Therapy) in 2021. Learning nature connection training, guiding techniques, council listening and speaking. These skills seem so simple yet with this new knowledge I seemed to transform into a new person. My awareness of myself seems to grow stronger with each meaningful moment spent in nature. I am learning how to slow down, to get out of my head and experience life through all my senses! My Forest Therapy training has changed my day to day job as a horticulturalist completely. 5 years ago I changed direction in my career. Instead of designing and maintaining manicured landscapes and gardens I now help steward the trail systems in the city of Courtenay. I am always thinking of the connection between humans, animals and plants of a trail. How all things effect each other, and how to nurture that relationship for the best outcome for all. I continue to learn so much from just noticing and “being” in nature and would love to share a nature therapy walk with you.
“Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do no preach learning and precepts, they preach undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life.”
~ Hermann Hesse
Family Digital Detox
Get Outside and Play
Give yourself and your family the gift of playing in nature together. Loose track of time and let your imagination take over. Leave your electronics behind and experience how nature can rewire your brain and bring calm as a more frequent state.
3 days, 2 hours each day = $180 per family
A mixture of nature games, sit spot time, and family forest sharing council
email: asoakinnature@gmail.com for more information
Family Nature Connection Walk
Join me for a series of invitations as I guide your family through nature.
Giving you time to just be, to feel grateful, and enjoy time with your family
3 hours of nature connection in the beautiful Comox Valley. All ages welcome.
Locations: Comox Lake, Ruth Masters Wildlife Corridor, Roy Stewart Nature Park, Tsolum Spirit Park, Seal Bay Nature Park
$100. for a private family walk
email: asoakinnature@gmail.com for more information
Stress Reliever Nature Walk
Choose a beach or forest experience
Let nature reset your nervous system. Rest and down time have become so scarce in our everyday lives. Our nervous system is on high alert leaving our body and mind feeling fatigued and even filled with anxiety and anger. The easiest remedy to benefit your health is to spend more time in nature. Research has proven that after a 120 minutes in nature our body systems naturally begin to regulate.
$100. 3 hour private walk
$50/person in a group up to 8 people
email: asoakinnature@gmail.com for more information
My intention of each walk is to create a supportive bond between people and the forest so each participant will leave with the experience of how to include more nature based activities into their lives providing a way to relax and manage stress.
The art of guiding is about guiding nature connection rather than teaching nature education or prescribing a pre-determined journey.
Khalil GibranForget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair
Forest Therapy Guiding 