Katarzyna (Kasia) Khanna has vivid childhood memories of exploring the wild on solo wanderings and weeks-long scouting camps. However, she lost this connection to nature for at least 15 years of her adulthood while pursuing degrees and a career in a big city like London.
This interview unveils her profound journey of personal and professional transformation. While pursuing a career in marketing and business, she lost her connection to nature. A turning point came after professional burnout, when she attended a women’s workshop and discovered her deepest longing for the forest. This awakening led her to explore Forest Therapy with FTHub, which not only healed her personally but also inspired a new vocation.
Today, Kasia is guiding women on journeys of self-discovery through nature-based workshops, helping them reconnect with their authentic purpose and realize their full potential.
Kasia’s world
Rediscovering Nature: “Several years ago I read a book about Forest Bathing, but I didn’t take any action. I just thought, Well, this is a nice thing that people are doing. I would have loved to try it, but at the time, it felt too far removed from the life I was living and beyond my reach”.
A Heart’s Longing: “When I attended my first women’s workshop, I heard a question: What is your heart’s deepest longing? The only answer that came to mind was that my heart longed to be in the forest. I began to wonder, How would I have to change my life to fulfill that longing? But then another thought immediately followed: That’s impossible.”
Life’s Detours: “I realized that, up until that point, I hadn’t been living a life I had consciously chosen! I was simply following whatever opportunities came my way, without making intentional decisions. Suddenly, I remembered that I had never wanted to own a company or run a business. It’s only now, after years of intensive self-development, that I’ve learned how to make decisions for myself. It’s only now that I truly understand how to choose what I want to do in life.”
Forest’s Impact: “Nature had an enormous impact on me personally. The forest was the only place where I didn’t have to wear masks or pretend to be someone I wasn’t. There, I could fully experience the therapeutic power of the forest for myself.
“Now, I understand that forest therapy is an incredibly powerful practice for facilitating ‘eco-awakening.’ It represents a shift from an ego-centric to an eco-centric identity—a moment when a person recognizes themselves as part of nature, with a unique set of skills and a meaningful contribution to offer to the greater community of the living Earth. Through forest therapy, personal transformation goes hand in hand with cultural and ecological transformation.”
“You cannot help a human without considering the environment in which the human exists… We are integral with our environment… We are meant to be part of nature”
Balancing Career and Passion
“I am currently in a transition phase. While I continue to run my marketing agency, I am becoming more selective about the clients I work with. Now, I only work with people I genuinely like. I work because I choose to, not because I have to. I consciously decide to support certain clients because I believe in their mission and feel that what they’re doing is beneficial for the world. I want to contribute to that.
“However, I am at a point where my marketing and office work are becoming less important. Training with FTHub has opened the door to an alternative line of work. Facilitating forest therapy sessions has become a secondary source of income. I now organize retreats, such as weekend workshops, where I have the opportunity to spend more time with participants and engage in deeper, transformative processes.
“Forest Therapy has become a powerful tool that allows me to do what I’ve always felt called to do: work with people in nature, and more specifically, support women through deep, meaningful journeys of eco-awakening and self-discovery. This is where my true passion lies, and it’s what I genuinely want to pursue.
“In terms of balancing professional life, I have two careers. It’s just the amount of time and energy I give to each one of them is shifting”.
Life
“I have many vivid childhood memories of venturing into the wild and exploring. I would go on these expeditions into nature, imagining myself as if I were in an Indiana Jones movie. I could spend hours lost in my adventures and didn’t even need company. I was also part of a scouting organization, which meant I spent a lot of time camping in nature under very basic conditions—nothing like modern-day campsites. These camps would last at least two or three weeks. But as I grew older, I completely lost that connection to nature.
“I spent nine years in London, where I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism with Media and Cultural Studies from Kingston University, followed by a Master’s in Design for Communication from the University of Westminster. Although my initial interest was in psychology, my journey led me to the world of communication and advertising.
“Since 2014, I’ve been the owner of a marketing agency, specializing in social media marketing, online advertising, and strategic brand communication. As an experienced trainer in marketing and social media since 2016, I’ve helped countless clients navigate the digital landscape.
“A journey with me is a journey into the depths of the forest and the psyche, aimed at realizing one’s full potential in a way that brings value to both people and the planet”
“The forest has had a profound impact on me personally. I am fascinated by how simple activities in nature lead people to deep self-discoveries, reflecting their inner world through their sensual experiences of nature. I believe it’s a part of the journey of uncovering one’s unique place within the more-than-human Earth community and connecting with a truly authentic calling or life purpose. I call this process ‘eco-awakening’ and I am convinced that Forest Bathing and Forest Therapy are the perfect tools to facilitate it”.
“You cannot help a human being without considering the environment in which they exist. We are an integral part of the web of life. However, in the modern world, people have forgotten where their natural environment truly is. And this is why we must renew these connections”.
Ph: Courtesy Katarzyna Khanna
Act now, enrolling in our Forest Bathing Guide Training and Forest Therapy Practitioner Training. Grow together, equipping you with essential skills to lead transformative experiences in nature.
