Nature Therapy Walks

Nature Therapy Walks are an invitation to reconnect to yourself, the natural world, and others. American physician Dean Ornish said, “The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food.” We believe he is right, and our modern world has left us starved for connection. And, we have only become more disconnected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we invite you to attend a Nature Therapy Walk and reconnect.

ANFT_Certified_Guide_LogoIn our Nature Therapy Walk, we’ll quiet our minds, awaken our senses, and restore our relationship with ourselves and nature with a slow, gentle walk (2-3 hours long, usually spanning less than 1/2 mile). This allows plenty of time for stillness and to appreciate the healing benefits of nature. Nature is the therapist. Your nature therapy guide opens the door.

Through a series of thoughtfully crafted activities, I’ll invite you to experience nature in a new way. It all culminates with a “Wild Tea” in which your guide will serve snacks and a wildcrafted infusion of local plants. Upon departure, you’ll have reconnected with yourself through the natural world, and have learned a new practice that you can readily apply in your daily life. May nature befriend you!

A research-based framework

Nature Therapy Walks are based on a research-based framework. Nature Therapy Walks are inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates to “forest bathing.” Decades of studies have demonstrated the many health benefits of spending time in forests and other natural environments. For example, some benefits include strengthening the cardiovascular and immune systems and stabilizing and improving mood. We build on those benefits and look beyond immersion to connection. So, we invite you to see what happens when we remember that we are a part of nature, not separate from it.

A spacious, open-ended experience

The practice of Nature Therapy is open-ended. There is nothing you “should” experience, or benefits you “should” receive. Instead, you develop a deepening relationship of reciprocity, in which you and the natural world find a way to work together that supports the wholeness and wellness of both. We provide a defined sequence of guided events that provide structure. However, there is enough space for the creativity and serendipity offered by nature to combine with your unique experiences and perspective to create a personal experience. This practice, developed by the Association for Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT), is the most widely used framework for Nature & Forest Therapy in the world.

Schedule a walk

Evolutions offers private, group, and public Nature Therapy Walks. Walks are available at various locations on Long Island (Suffolk and Nassau Counties), as well as virtually.

Schedule a private individual/group walk

See our upcoming public walks

An introduction to Nature Therapy

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir