Forest Bathing Retreat (Winter)
$1550 per person based on twin share OR $2150 for single in king room.
After the success of our first Autumn Forest Bathing Retreat in March in the Southern Highlands we are delighted to partner with Bundanon in the Shoalhaven to present our Winter Forest Bathing Retreat in the Valley. This retreat coincides with Bundanon’s new exhibition season featuring Arthur Boyd: Landscape of the Soul, in conversation with a series of paintings by Yuin artist Uncle Ben Brown (Reuben Ernest Brown) and a new installation by Tim Georgeson and William Barton.
This retreat, from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 July 2022, is for anyone who has the desire to reset, rejuvenate, nourish, heal, transform or to just take a mini break from the busyness of the everyday.
This holistic wellness retreat makes the most of the Illaroo location, integrating forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) practices with meditation and gentle yoga. You will spend time in the beautiful bush lands of this property and see where Arthur Boyd drew his inspiration for the Australian masterpieces now so much a part of our artistic culture.
There has never been a better time to explore new wellbeing opportunities as we embrace the benefits of slowing down and putting our health first. Forest bathing is a wonderful way to recharge, connect with nature and regenerate our souls as the practice involves a series of guided methods to help us relax, become more present and connect with the natural world.
The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku—literally translated as “forest bathing”—is based on a simple premise: immerse yourself in the forest, absorb its sights, sounds, and smells, and you will reap numerous psychological and physiological benefits.
A wide range of scientific studies show that time spent in nature positively alters the biomarkers of stress and wellbeing. Our heart rates slow, blood pressure decreases, cortisol levels in the blood decline, sympathetic nervous system activity decreases and parasympathetic nervous system increase. In addition, the chemical compounds – phytoncides, released by trees positively impact our immune systems protecting us from illness and disease.
What to expect
Day 1 Friday 22 July 2022
Arrive in the afternoon and check into your accommodation.
Option to come and spend the day at the venue with cafe lunch (open to 4pm)
Explore the grounds and settle in before indulging in a 2 course meal prepared by the in-house chef with Hosts Christie Little and Amanda Fry.
Meet and Greet 6pm followed by dinner around 7pm. This is where we share the journey ahead so Friday night is to get you mindset ready and relaxed as well as meet other retreat guests.
Day 2 Saturday 23 July 2022
Begin with optional early morning meditation and yoga
Continental Breakfast
Forest Bathing Experience in the grounds of Bundanon
Lunch in Cafe
Nature therapy session on the river
Afternoon Tea
5.30pm Unique Forest Bathing Experience connecting to the Landscapes of the Soul Exhibition
7.30pm 2 Course Dinner
(Optional) Meditation practice to prepare for sleep
Day 3 Sunday 24 July 2022
(Optional) Early morning meditation and yoga
Continental Breakfast
Forest Bathing at Arthur Boyd Homestead
Wild forage for tea to have with your lunch
Picnic Lunch on scenic walk to key sites that inspired Arthur’s paintings
Afternoon in Studio Session.
Close and farewell.
Register your interest to hello@experiencenature.com.au
On sale now Our 2-night, 3-day retreat includes all activities, nature therapy sessions, meals and use of facilities in the price. All rooms are on the Bridge, are the same and have a king size bed. These can be booked for one person or as twin share and each has its own ensuite. Wine/Spirits with meals is not included. Cost is $1550 per person based on twin share and $2150 for single in king room.
For your diary also our Spring Retreats at Bangalay Villas will be held on Tues 11th – Thursday 13th October and Friday 14th – Sunday 16th October 2022. These will be on sale in late April.
Description
In Germany, where it originated, it is known as “Waldtherapie”, in Japan it is called “Shinrin-yoku” (森林浴) or “Shinrin-ryōhō (森林療法)”, in Korea it is referred to as “Sanlimyok (산림욕)” and in China and Taiwan people call it “Sēnlín liáofǎ (森林療法)”. Here in Australia the practice is known as forest bathing, shinrin yoku, or forest or nature therapy.
Forest bathing is a great way to invite listening, healing, reflection and accepting into our environment in a low impact way. Learn how to find yourself in the company of trees or more succinctly master the practice of creating physical and psychological wellness through immersion in the natural environment at our 2 night, 3 Day Forest Bathing Retreat.
ABOUT CHRISTIE
We are delighted to welcome our collaborator Christie Little back to the Highlands to run our forest therapy retreat.
Christie Little is a holistic psychotherapist, counsellor and retreat facilitator with certifications in Somatic Coaching, Embodied Flow Yoga, Positive Neuroplasticity Training, Biofeedback for Stress and Recovery, Wellness and Nutrition Coaching and Nature therapy. She was the first Nature Therapy guide certified in NSW by the International Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.
Christie regularly spends time in nature both personally and professionally and partners with Experience Nature to offer Forest Bathing sessions in the Southern Highlands. She is the nature connection guide for Pymble Ladies College, Vision Valley Campus. She lives in the Blue Mountains, hikes each day and often spends her weekends solo at her off-grid wilderness property. With more than 15 years experience working with individuals and groups to bring about healing and transformation she now weaves together her broad expertise to meet the unique needs of each individual she has the honour to work with.
Relevant Professional Experience:
- Founder, House of Healing Collective. Holistic Psychotherapy, Counselling and Coaching
- Founder, Frontier Wellbeing, Organisational wellbeing, resilience and performance consultancy (current)
- Stream Leader, Leadership, Homeward Bound, world’s leading global program for women in STEMM, including a month in Antarctica. (current)
- Advisory Consultant & People Lead, Leadership Development, Korn Ferry (Awarded 2020 Leadership Program of the year for Boral Leadership Program)
- Co-Founder The Performance Clinic, Executive Coaching Consultancy now owned by KPMG
Relevant Education & Certifications:
- Bachelor of Economics, First Class Honours, Sydney University
- Graduate Certificate, Change Management, AGSM
- Holistic Psychotherapy and Counselling, Metavision Institute
- Nature Therapy Guide, Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, USA
- Biofeedback for Stress Management and Coaching, International Association of Psychophysiology, USA
- Positive Neuroplasticity Training and Mindfulness, with Dr. Rick Hanson through Openground.
- Somatic Leadership, Strozzi Institute and Coaches Rising. USA
- Wellbeing and Nutrition Coaching, Nature Care College.
- 200 hour Teacher training with Embodied Flow Yoga Institute.
- Permaculture Design Certificate. Studied with David Holmgren.
- Wilderness First Aid Certificate
A typical forest therapy walk may take 2 hours but covers less than 0.5km of trail. Christie ensures that you connect to the present moment through a range of sensory awareness activities. The senses are the gateway to joy and pleasure and too many of us have forgotten how to enjoy our lives. By drawing on the ancient practice of mindfulness and meditation, Christie create the space for participants to pause deeply. The busier we are the more deeply we need to pause.
Additional information
| Experience | Winter Forest Bathing Retreat |
|---|---|
| Day | Fri 22 to Sun 24 July |
| Accomodation | One Person Per Room, Two People (Double or Twin Share) Room |
“The time I spent with Christie gave me far more than I expected to receive. She has created such a unique experience with Live.Well.Wild, you truly are being nourished within nature and nourished by all that Christie has to offer.
Working full time at a large consulting firm, and recently nurturing my son through serious health complications, I have had no time to slow down, let alone stop. This retreat offered all of that, but importantly to me, an opportunity to connect within and to the incredible natural beauty of wilderness around me. It has had a profound and lasting impact on me.
I came away from the retreat with a completely different outlook on the world feeling lighter and completely recharge and re-energised”.
“Through the nature connection retreat you will experience a deep connection with a beautiful part of the world, great food and a wonderfully guided experience. You will have a chance to reset and decompress. You will leave feeling lighter and fresher.You will have fun. Through the Forest Bathing and Nature Connection, I also experienced profound personal insights. The clarity of thought and personal growth has been significant for me”.
“It was so lovely to be part of the program. You made everyone feel so welcome and relaxed and very quickly connected. We felt by the end we would have walked over hot coals for each other”
“I have never experienced a total embracing sense of love all around me and for me! What you may not be aware of is the engagement of the Italian staff I had, speaking Italian; connecting with my Italian origins and acknowledgment by them that I spoke well and I understood what was being said to me. It has been too many years since I had spoken Italian! What a complete surprise to feel part of my birth right – to belong to my Italian roots.
Incredibly, I had a sense of welcome to Osborn House from the first encounter, when I got out of my vehicle. All the staff had warm smiles – I felt like I was with true friends I had known for so long, so familiar.
I’d also like to mention the beautiful Ladies I was fortunate enough to join, on our shinrin-yoku experience. “Once shared ….. never forgotten!” Each woman bringing their own unique perspective on one’s vulnerability and strength ……… on this journey of life. My heart was touched by your personal story and your continuing passage of self-awareness: wishing to create and cater for others in need and the passion, devotion and resilience to bring you dreams to fruition. And our guide, Christie’s soft voice, gentle and accepting nature made it all possible.
Again, THANK YOU! 🙏 Forever grateful,