“Between a human and a tree is the breath.
We are each other’s air.”
— Margaret Bates
Reciprocal Breathing is a term coined by American nature educator Joseph Bharat Cornell. He describes beautifully how an average-sized tree releases enough oxygen each day to sustain four people. For this special event, I'm teaming up with Devon-based Nature and Therapy to celebrate International Women's Week, offering you the chance to experience the magic of breathing in the forest amongst beautiful trees, whilst hearing the birdsong all around you.
Our 3 hours together in Nower Wood, a private nature reserve, combines Forest Bathing and Breathwork, giving you the chance to experience all the life-giving, detoxing, immune-boosting and emotional clearing that comes with conscious breathing out in nature, creating a symbiotic interaction between you and the forest.
Together we'll take time to explore the forest, immersing deeply into the sounds, smells and textures of our woodland ecosystem. We’ll experience how the forest stimulates all five of our senses and moves us from engaging less with our sympathetic nervous system (fight, flight or freeze) and more with our parasympathetic system (rest, digest and recover). We do this through a series of light, gentle exercises, or invitations, as they are known. Forest bathing is scientifically proven to improve our health. Countless Japanese studies have revealed how it boosts our immune system, reduces stress hormones, enhances mental wellness and bolsters brain health. It can provide emotional healing, decrease blood pressure, improve general sleep-wake cycles, improve relationship skills, reduce stress and feelings of aggression.
Gentle, yet powerful Breathwork practices will be weaved into our Forest Bathing walk. Our breath is the only part of our nervous system that we can use to influence our state of being. It’s a mobile pharmacy which once understood, can be used to calm and energise our nervous system. We’ll look at how your breath is, and how it can be improved.
We’ll finish our time together sharing woodland tea and a home-made cacao protein ball.
“On the underside of a leaf are the largest number of tiny openings (stomata) through which air enters and exits a tree. Reach out and gently hold a leaf, bringing your nose close to the leaf’s underside. Inhale the oxygen released by the tree and then exhale carbon dioxide into the leaf. As you breathe in and out, be aware of how interconnected you are with the forest, and of the reciprocal relationship all beings have with one another.” — Joseph Bharat Cornell.
Notes
Please wear/bring warm clothing for this session - layers are great - along with suitable footwear for the time of year walking in a woodland environment. Please also wear comfortable non-restrictive clothing so that you’re relaxed throughout our time together. Directions and further details will be sent to you by email 3 days before the event. Time is 9.30am-12.30pm. Please arrive 15 mins before to ensure everyone arrives on time to begin at 9.30am.
