“I’ve always felt best in nature. I grew up camping and playing outside. When I participated in my first Forest Bathing walk while on a yoga retreat, I felt like a kid again and knew Forest Bathing was a practice I had to add to my wellness toolbox.”
“By day, I’m a children’s book editor, which is my dream come true. My love for reading and books, and my belief that children’s books can change the world, drove me to pursue this career. Working with authors, illustrators, and my colleagues in every area of the publishing process is full of creativity, relationship building, and problem-solving. Luckily for me, forest bathing boosts creativity, improves social health, and in my experience, leads to nature-inspired solutions. It also prevents unhealthy stress and burnout. All of these benefits are essential to success in my book publishing career.
“I’ve also had the opportunity to bring these benefits directly to children’s book writers and illustrators through nature connection and writing workshops, which have been incredibly rewarding and fruitful. I’ve also incorporated nature connection into my yoga classes as a certified yoga teacher (YT200) through sensory meditations, visualizations, and even hands-on exposure to nature during class. Adding these elements have made my yoga classes more engaging and dynamic, and helped boost my confidence as a teacher.”
“Since earning my Forest Bathing Guide certification through the Forest Therapy Hub, I’ve integrated nature connection into my daily life. I take the extra moment to spend with something I notice, from the bug that landed on me to the colors of the sunset to the sound of the rain on the roof. I talk with my friends and family about their experiences in nature. In my free time, I prioritize spending time in and with nature. The scientific knowledge I gained from the training reminds me why doing so is a valuable use of my time, and the tools I learned from the training empower me to create meaningful moments with and in nature.”
The Hub Seedlings
“The Hub Seedlings is a free network of Forest Bathing Guides, Forest Therapy Practitioners, and in some regions, other professionals in the field of nature connectedness”.
“The idea is that we as entrepreneurs and the field as a whole will be stronger with this support system, just like communities of plants thrive by sharing information with one another through their roots in mycorrhizal networks”.
“Since laws, cultures, and languages vary geographically, we’ve established Seedlings in North America, Ibero-America (Spanish-speaking countries), Australasia (Asia and the Pacific, using the English language), Europe (using the English language), Italy, and Poland in order for each group to focus on the specific needs of their regions. The Ibero-America, Italy, and Poland Seedlings are available only to FTHub students and alumni, while the North America, Australasia, and Europe Seedlings are open to professionals trained by any organization.
“Being a part of this network is invaluable. In each Seedling, I’ve witnessed an exchange of ideas, tools, business techniques, and inspiring success stories that empower everyone in the networks to be the best nature connectedness professional and entrepreneur possible”.
“I myself have learned from everyone I’ve met in the North American Seedling and have started to make productive changes to my business practices as a result. It’s also been very validating to learn that challenges I experience around entrepreneurship in this field are similar to what my colleagues are experiencing all around the world, and that I don’t have to face these obstacles alone. Through The Hub Seedlings, we are brainstorming, consulting experts, and overcoming these challenges together, which is both energizing and effective”.
“I am especially grateful for the folks who have volunteered as leaders in each Seedling to make this community possible. The Seedling Leaders are creative, resourceful, and passionate about nurturing the nature connectedness field and everyone in it. They plan, facilitate, and market every Network Call to the needs of their regions and are incredible people to know and work with. I’m excited to see all that we’re capable of together as The Hub Seedlings grow”.
“Each Seedling hosts free monthly or bi-monthly virtual Network Calls via Zoom. Visit our calendar to register for the next calls in your region. Questions about The Hub Seedling Network can be directed to erika@foresttherapyhub.com.”
“I’ve witnessed beautiful and powerful moments in my participants on forest bathing walks, especially with people experiencing grief. Multiple participants have felt the environment share messages from loved ones who have passed away and others have had cathartic moments that moved them through sadness to joy. It is humbling to witness the power of nature connectedness in this way, and to work with nature to hold the space for people to experience these healing moments.”
“Seriously, register for a Hub Seedling Network Call in your region! Recently, a panel of entrepreneurs from a variety of industries spoke to the North America Seedling and all three panelists’ advice for attracting more clients was relationship building and networking. The Hub Seedling Network is a supportive environment to start networking with like-minded people. It’s free and low-commitment—show up when you can, contribute what you can, and absorb what you can. There’s a lot to gain and nothing to lose. Your Seedling leaders and I hope to see you at a Network Call soon!”
Ph: Courtesy Erika DiPasquale – Editor, Forest Bathing Guide and Trainer, and Director of The Hub Seedlings
