About me...
This is me, your guide, Ruth. I'll tell you a bit about my journey and how I came to do what I do...
Mid 2018 living in the beautiful mountains and woodlands of mid Wales, I found myself being rushed to hospital after collapsing at work with an unexpected critical respiratory illness that led to a long stay in hospital and several days in ICU. These days were made easier by the lucky and rare views from my hospital bed of the hills and trees surrounding the area, and somehow that view gave me hope and perspective on my own struggle and place in the world. Seeing the trees and green space, the view of the natural world, reminded me to let go of all the things that were unimportant and trivial, and instead focus on all that matters - live, love, family, friends and nature.
When I was finally discharged and made the long journey home across the UK to my parents’ house here in Essex, having lost my job, accommodation, relationship and future plans, I knew the road to recovery physically and mentally would be a long and interesting one. But I kept reminding myself of what I had learnt on that hospital bed. My parents live near a beautiful woodland area, and I knew I had to get there to fully heal.
Step by step I got from the garden to the front door, to the drive, to the street and finally up the street and into the woods... the woods became my sanctuary. Soon I was managing long slow walks surrounded by the trees and the birds, and squirrels. I felt supported and happy. I felt able to breathe. My lungs still stiff and creaking from the damage done, I felt them inflate with more ease and joy at the fresh forest air.
I’ve always loved being outdoors, the wilds, the mountains, the trees. And so I began to read and research the power of healing in nature, wellness in the woods... I discovered articles that talked about hospital patients recovering at a faster rate if given a view of nature, or even just images of nature. I discovered research papers on the studies done over in Japan, how time in nature directly affects our bodies, our nervous system, and our minds. I stumbled across the practice of "forest bathing" or "shinrin yoku"and knew this was where I was being directed...
Now a fully trained guide, I feel fortunate to have found so many beautiful places to guide in Essex, working with Essex Wildlife Trust, the National Trust, Essex County Council, Mind and the NHS.
TRAINING & STUDIES
Shinrin Yoku Practitioner, International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine
Natural Mindfulness and Forest Therapy Guide, IMMA
Mindfulness & Compassion Teacher - Mindfulness UK
Mental Health First Aider - MHFA England
Covid-19 Psychological First Aid trained - Public Health England
Covid-19 Awareness for Therapists - Brighton Holistics
Reiki Practitioner - Level 2
Emergency First Aid Trained
DBS checked
Public and professional liability insured
Introduction to Ecopsychology Course - Natural Academy
(Centre of Excellence studies in: Shinrin Yoku, The Secret Life of Trees, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction)
Past Experience:
BA (Hons) in Performance
Trinity TESOL Certificate in Teaching
Certificates in Animal Behaviour & Canine First Aid
Team Building Workshop Leader working with International NGOs, the UN and the UK & Foreign Embassies
Event Manager and Producer in the UK, Asia and Australia🌳
Mid 2018 living in the beautiful mountains and woodlands of mid Wales, I found myself being rushed to hospital after collapsing at work with an unexpected critical respiratory illness that led to a long stay in hospital and several days in ICU. These days were made easier by the lucky and rare views from my hospital bed of the hills and trees surrounding the area, and somehow that view gave me hope and perspective on my own struggle and place in the world. Seeing the trees and green space, the view of the natural world, reminded me to let go of all the things that were unimportant and trivial, and instead focus on all that matters - live, love, family, friends and nature.
When I was finally discharged and made the long journey home across the UK to my parents’ house here in Essex, having lost my job, accommodation, relationship and future plans, I knew the road to recovery physically and mentally would be a long and interesting one. But I kept reminding myself of what I had learnt on that hospital bed. My parents live near a beautiful woodland area, and I knew I had to get there to fully heal.
Step by step I got from the garden to the front door, to the drive, to the street and finally up the street and into the woods... the woods became my sanctuary. Soon I was managing long slow walks surrounded by the trees and the birds, and squirrels. I felt supported and happy. I felt able to breathe. My lungs still stiff and creaking from the damage done, I felt them inflate with more ease and joy at the fresh forest air.
I’ve always loved being outdoors, the wilds, the mountains, the trees. And so I began to read and research the power of healing in nature, wellness in the woods... I discovered articles that talked about hospital patients recovering at a faster rate if given a view of nature, or even just images of nature. I discovered research papers on the studies done over in Japan, how time in nature directly affects our bodies, our nervous system, and our minds. I stumbled across the practice of "forest bathing" or "shinrin yoku"and knew this was where I was being directed...
Now a fully trained guide, I feel fortunate to have found so many beautiful places to guide in Essex, working with Essex Wildlife Trust, the National Trust, Essex County Council, Mind and the NHS.
TRAINING & STUDIES
Shinrin Yoku Practitioner, International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine
Natural Mindfulness and Forest Therapy Guide, IMMA
Mindfulness & Compassion Teacher - Mindfulness UK
Mental Health First Aider - MHFA England
Covid-19 Psychological First Aid trained - Public Health England
Covid-19 Awareness for Therapists - Brighton Holistics
Reiki Practitioner - Level 2
Emergency First Aid Trained
DBS checked
Public and professional liability insured
Introduction to Ecopsychology Course - Natural Academy
(Centre of Excellence studies in: Shinrin Yoku, The Secret Life of Trees, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction)
Past Experience:
BA (Hons) in Performance
Trinity TESOL Certificate in Teaching
Certificates in Animal Behaviour & Canine First Aid
Team Building Workshop Leader working with International NGOs, the UN and the UK & Foreign Embassies
Event Manager and Producer in the UK, Asia and Australia🌳
