Nature Therapy Walk: Newlands Corner Guildford

Our leisurely Nature Therapy walks are carried out in Surrey Wildlife Trust nature reserves across the county. http://www.surreywildlifetrust.org/

Newlands Corner near Guildford provides us with a great example of Ancient Woodland. Emerging science is highlighting the importance of such environments for human health. Instead of thinking of our event as a walk in the woods, we would describe it as a relaxing sensory journey designed to calm the body and mind. We won’t walk a huge distance, there will be plenty of time to sit, relax and soak in the atmosphere of this very special place. The main area we use is an ancient Yew Tree grove with a beautiful serene atmosphere. Most people feel a tranquil feeling and feel the need to return after our events. 

If you have ever wondered about the healing effects of Nature, we will share various techniques that help us, we will also reveal the latest science on how natural settings positevely impact the physiology of the body. You will return home with a few techniques to use when you need them. We plan to replicate the science that has already been conducted in Japan demonstrating the therapeutic effects of nature. We have teamed up with a US based University and will begin field trials later in 2017.

Three hours might sound like a long time, but once you enter the Yew Tree Grove, we feel sure you will find the time passes very quickly, the overwhelming feedback so far is the time passed too quickly and people wanted to spend even longer relaxing. Past feedback also includes, our session provided a very welcome “time out” from the fast pace of modern life and allowed participants a very welcome opportunity for reflection.

 “Newlands Corner is a popular reserve with superb views of the surrounding countryside. There are 103 hectares (255 acres) of open chalk downland and peaceful woodlands to explore. The woodlands here are mixed, with some deciduous trees like oak and birch, plus evergreen yew. Some of the yew trees are hundreds of years old. The woods shelter roe deer and are home to green woodpeckers, nuthatches and tawny owls.”

Short video overview

In this video Gary from Holistic Healing Therapy answers the most common questions about Nature Therapy – how can Nature Therapy help you? How Nature Therapy can help reduce stress and blood pressure, improve the immune system, and boost creativity? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyX7Twag_5s 

There are on-site toilets and a coffee shop with food. There is a maximum of 20 places; this will ensure Gary and Olga can give each person private tuition.

ABOUT NATURE THERAPY:

We have been inspired by forest bathing, currently widely practiced for its therapeutic properties in Japan and the USA.

In Japan, a forest bathing trip is called Shinrin-yoku.

“A forest bathing trip involves visiting a forest for relaxation and recreation while breathing in (wood essential oils). Incorporating forest bathing trips into a good lifestyle was first proposed in 1982 by the Forest Agency of Japan. It has now become a recognized relaxation and/or stress management activity in Japan.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_bathing

Some of the scientifically proven benefits of spending time in nature include reduced stress levels, stronger immune system response, and a stabilised cortisol cycle. You can read more about the benefits of Nature Therapy on our website. 

ABOUT GARY AND OLGA:

Gary and Olga have traveled extensively visiting ancient sites and forests, from their studies of indigenous wisdom they have come to understand that something vital has been missed from modern educational systems. Where was our education on emotional health and well-being? How should we handle stress when life takes an unexpected turn? Most of us have no idea what to do. To find useful and helpful tools, we have to look to other cultures and times long past.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

We will start with an introduction: who we are, what we do, and give simple tips for the session ahead. 

We will take a walk around the site and then gather to start some simple relaxation exercises, these will involve breathing exercises, aimed at calming your breath and bringing mindfulness to your senses.

Throughout the 3 hour walk, you will be supervised by Gary and Olga, who will do their best to give you as much attention as possible, and take the best care of you. After some of the exercises, we will join in a group to briefly discuss our experiences, which will help us learn from each other and, maybe, notice something new about ourselves.

We recommend combining outside yoga (or inside if the weather doesn’t allow, from 10.45am to 11.45am) and gong bath (inside, from 12 to 1pm) in Clandon Wood, West Clandon, GU4 7FN with the follow-up Nature Therapy Walk on the day. You can come for either yoga or gong (£12 per ticket per class, £10 concessions), or come for both yoga and gong (£20 per ticket for yoga and gong classes, £18 concessions). You can learn more about our yoga and gong baths in our Meetup group The Alchemy of Sound, or on our website holistichealingtherapy.co.uk.

GETTING THERE:

LOCATION: There is a large free car park onsite; we will meet at 2pm at the far end away from the road. You will see us holding a sign “Nature Therapy.”

PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

The nearest train station is 3.5 miles away in Guildford. We will do our best to help facilitate pickups from the station if required.

SPACE IS LIMITED TO 20 PEOPLE– please, ensure you RSVP and pay to secure a place.

PRICE:

Single Ticket: 15 GBP for 3 hours.

Concessions (students, pensioners, benefit recipients): Flexible cost. PLEASE, CONTACT US FOR PAYMENT DETAILS. We will ask for evidence of concession eligibility.

HOW TO BOOK A PLACE:

To guarantee your place, we ask you to RSVP YES on Meetup and pay via Paypal. If you are unable to pay via Paypal, please, contact us directly. There are a variety of other ways we can take payment. You can also pay on arrival. Please, let us know you are coming by contacting us before the event.

CONTACT US:

If you have any questions, please, contact us by Meetup message or by filling in the Contact Form on the Contact us page on our website:www.holistichealingtherapy.co.uk

If you would like to speak directly with us, you can find our phone number on our website.

Please note: online payments finish at 8 am on the day of the event. “RSVPS CLOSED” means the event is full.

REFUND POLICY:

Please, be aware that WE ONLY REFUND THE TICKET PRICE NO LATER THAN 72 HOURS (3 DAYS) BEFORE THE SCHEDULED EVENT STARTS. Please, contact us if you need a refund (please, note that any Paypal charges will not be refunded). PLEASE, KINDLY NOTE THAT WE DO NOT ISSUE REFUNDS FOR NON-ATTENDANCE.

ADVICE: BEFORE AND AFTER THE EVENT – WHAT TO BRING:

We advise you to drink plenty of water before and after, bring some water with you, and eat enough food before the walk to prepare you for the three hours ahead – if needed, please, bring snacks with you. We also encourage you to wear loose fitting comfortable clothing.

As Nature Therapy Walks are outside, we advise you to dress appropriately. For rain, bring an umbrella, raincoat, and boots. For hot weather, bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. We ask you to wear good outdoor boots or shoes with a decent grip. Ideally something waterproof with ankle support. If we do encounter wet weather, there will be certain sections of the site which are slippery. We also advise you to bring layers, including long-sleeved tops, long trousers, and long socks for protection against insects.

We advise you to bring any necessary medications; if you are allergic to insect bites you should bring appropriate medicine to cover any eventualities.

Please, note that some of our exercises will involve sitting on the ground, so we advise you to bring something waterproof to sit on.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

We kindly ask anyone attending the event to read our TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Please, be aware that by clicking “RSVP YES” and paying for your ticket, as well as coming to the event and paying there, you confirm you have read and agreed to our TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

Minors: Please, be aware our walks are aimed at adults due to the profound nature of Nature Therapy. We ask that 16 and 17 years olds are accompanied by adults (guardians or parents), and we will need a written consent letter from their parent/guardian. We can not admit anyone younger than 16 years old (sorry!).

Medical conditions/prescribed medications/pregnancy: We advise those in the first trimester of pregnancy to abstain from our events. If you are pregnant, please, inform us before the event. If you have any medical conditions, are on a prescribed medication, are pregnant, or have any concerns, please, see your GP and inform him/her about attending our Nature Therapy sessions, this will allow your GP to give appropriate advice. If you currently experience or have a history of serious health issues (including mental health issues, operations, medical procedures, seizures, implants, special needs), please, inform us before the walk.

Please, be aware that we will not be able to answer emails, messages, or calls from 9 am to 4 pm on the day of the event. For those that sign up, we will forward you our mobile numbers in case you need to make contact on the day.

We are very excited about these new events and look forward to sharing the restorative power of nature with everyone attending. We hope to see you at our Nature Therapy Walk!

Gary and Olga

Holistic Healing Therapy