Natural Wanders

10/08/2024

So much gratitude for everyone who joined our CommuniTEA Forest Bathing Retreat! It was a beautiful morning at Transfiguration Preserve in Bat Cave, NC. We ended our nature therapy experience with a tea party next to the gorgeous Rocky Broad River. Thank you for connecting such wonderful people with this special land! Such a restorative and enlightening experience. 🤍

29/07/2024

Did you know a lack of connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 ci******es a day? Loneliness is an epidemic according to a recent report by the U.S. Surgeon General. However, there’s a simple solution: nature connection! If you’re in search of community in the great outdoors, join us for CommuniTEA amongst the trees. This immersive morning retreat is focused on fostering kinship with like-minded people and the more-than-human world. Community retreats take place Aug. 3 in partnership with . Also Aug. 10 at Transfiguration Preserve in Bat Cave in partnership with .

Your guide, Kelly Bruce, will lead you on a relational journey through the bountiful summer forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing and nature therapy together for a restorative morning. We’ll celebrate the experience in community, enjoying a special wild-foraged tea ceremony and snacks. Bring an open mind and an open heart. All are welcome. Advance reservations required. Registration link in bio.

21/07/2024

Water is life and summer rain is magical 🩵

20/06/2024

Let’s gather beneath the Strawberry Moon and immerse ourselves in the healing power of nature. We’ll wander along the banks of the French Broad River as the sun sets and the full moon rises. A few spots remain for Friday’s evening retreat - registration link in bio. 🍓🌝✨

01/06/2024

Love is love. Y’all means ALL. This month, we celebrate PRIDE. Natural Wanders is a proud ally and welcomes you to be YOU. EVERYONE is welcome in nature. 🌈

30/04/2024

We’re participating in the Challenge to encourage women all over the world to tap into the healing and empowering influences within ourselves, our communities and the Great Outdoors.

Join .us at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 in picturesque Pisgah National Forest near Asheville, NC for a community hike on the beginner-friendly Pink Beds Trail. Your guide, Kelly Bruce, will lead you on a gentle journey through the peaceful forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing and nature therapy together. Bring an open mind and an open heart. Together, we will connect to nature, community and Self.

This event is FREE, but advance registration is required. Visit the link in our bio to sign up.

visitnc

18/04/2024

"Try a little forest bathing — a mindful, sensory way to walk in nature — and scoop up a handful of dirt."

Go on, grab a handful of soil or hike a muddy trail: It can benefit everything from your mood to your microbiome.

12/04/2024

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” - Mark Twain
This quote gives me some major feels and I am reminded of it every time I walk through my yard. Violets are bountiful here in the Blue Ridge Mountains right now.

Did you know violets are edible? Guests at my forest bathing retreats are enjoying violets in their tea! A little flower essence makes our closing tea ceremonies extra special!

What’s blooming in your neck of the woods? Anything edible? Comment below. I’d love to hear from you! 🌸

04/03/2024

Nothing like another trip around the sun to fill my heart with gratitude. As I reflect on the past year, I’m in awe of the beauty I’ve witnessed and the connections made. I want to thank every single one of you for following my natural wanders. For those just tuning in, I’d like to take a moment to welcome you and introduce myself.

First of all, thank you for being here. And by here, I mean on this planet. For all that you’ve been through in your lifetime, all the ups and downs, the journey of your family and ancestors, it ALL has led you to this moment. You have a unique gift to share with the world. I hope you find quiet and stillness so you can hear the wisdom of your heart. It will lead you in the right direction. Of that I’m certain.

If you’re following me, you’re probably a nature lover, or you desire a deeper connection with the more than human world. You’ve come to the right place.

I began guiding nature therapy and forest bathing experiences in 2018. I left my marriage and a successful career in marketing and communications because it was killing me slowly. I wasn’t living in my truth, in authenticity. I was playing small, doing what I thought I was supposed to do. I couldn’t understand why I had this underlying depression - I had everything I wanted.

… continued in the link below. ⬇️

Insight and inspiration from certified forest therapy guide Kelly Bruce.

05/02/2024

Wow! My Heart-Centered Forest Bathing Community Retreats are now sold out for the month! What a lovely group yesterday in partnership with 🥰 Next weekend with is full. However, I DO have select dates available for private retreats and gift cards for the perfect Valentine’s Day present! 💝

Give yourself (or someone special) the gift of self-love and self-care. Spend an afternoon deepening your connection to nature and the wisdom of your heart. Quiet your mind and tap into the innate inner knowing that is always available to you. Don’t have the time to escape for a week? This mini retreat is for YOU!

As a certified guide, I will lead you on a heart-centered journey through the forest, weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku) and nature therapy together for a restorative retreat. We’ll celebrate the experience with a wild-foraged tea ceremony, snacks and sweet treats!

Book a private morning/afternoon retreat or gift card at https://www.naturalwanders.us. Sending love to all beings! ❤️

17/01/2024

Study finds mental and physiological health benefits for kids and teens who participate in structured forest therapy. I always enjoy having children along for my nature therapy experiences. Watch for special family friendly forest therapy sessions in July!

Study finds mental and physiological health benefits for kids and teens who participate in structured forest therapy A UW-La Crosse study found substantial health and well-being improvements for children and adolescents who participated in a structured forest bathing session. The improvements were b...

04/01/2024

The psychology of forest bathing.

Connecting with nature leads to connecting with one’s true self.

28/12/2023

Begin the new year by coming back to center. Equilibrium. Homeostasis. Return to YOU. Through a series of mindfulness invitations, we will linger in the present moment, deepen our connection with nature and community, and notice the many gifts the forest offers. We’ll conclude with a wild-foraged tea ceremony and snacks, reflecting and releasing 2023, then setting intentions for 2024.

A few of the benefits of forest bathing include improved mental and physical health, enhanced wellbeing and creativity. I’ll be weaving mindfulness, breathwork, forest bathing and nature therapy together for a restorative afternoon. In all honesty, words simply don’t do this practice justice, you need to experience it for yourself.

Join us Jan. 1, 2-5pm for an in-person retreat in the beautifully restorative Blue Ridge Mountains between Asheville and Brevard, NC. Tickets are $45 per person and advance registration is required. Register here: https://www.naturalwanders.us or comment/message for more information.

13/11/2023

Need some help finding peace amidst the holiday hustle? Join me for a riverside retreat under the full moon, Sunday, Nov. 26. Register here: https://ashevillewellnesstours.com/tour/guided-forest-bathing-nature-therapy/

Immerse yourself in the magic of twilight and experience the wonders of nighttime in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Enjoy mindful stroll along the French Broad River in Asheville, NC, filled with intentional nature connection as the sun sets and the full moon rises. We'll end with a tea ceremony and snacks around the campfire!

This is a unique opportunity to unplug in the private, peaceful setting of led by a certified nature therapy guide inviting you to connect more deeply to the environment around you. No bathing required - we are immersing ourselves in the healing qualities of nature! Quiet your mind and awaken your senses as we sink into the heightened awareness of this special evening experience. Together, we’ll deepen our relationship with nature, community and ourselves. The best part: there’s no right or wrong way to forest bathe; just bring an open heart, adventurous spirit and be yourself.

13/11/2023

In addition to offering forest bathing and nature therapy experiences, I also certify public and private forest therapy trails for the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. This National Geographic story explains how these experiences "guide visitors to engage with nature in ways that benefit their health and foster deeper exploration."

There are nearly two dozen certified trails around the world that guide visitors to engage with nature in ways that benefit their health and foster deeper exploration.

31/10/2023

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the fall foliage this Saturday . Register at https://ashevillewellnesstours.com/tour/guided-forest-bathing-nature-therapy/ 🍁🍂

16/10/2023

An inspiring, quick read about the restorative powers of the natural world ✨🌲✨

When my teacher, Ajahn Chah—a forest monk from Thailand—came for his first visit to the U.S, as we drove along his eyes got bigger...

13/10/2023

🎃 Kick off Halloween weekend in AVL!
🌅 Sunset on the French Broad River
☮️ Solitude of
🍁 Calm your mind, naturally
🔥 Roaring campfire
🌝 Full Hunter Moon
🍵 Tea Ceremony

Immerse yourself in the magic of twilight and experience the wonders of nighttime in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Enjoy mindful stroll along the French Broad River filled with intentional nature connection as the sun sets and the full moon rises. We'll end with a tea ceremony and treats (no tricks!) around the campfire!

This is a unique opportunity to unplug in a private, peaceful setting with a series of invitations led by a certified nature therapy guide that invite you to connect more deeply to the environment around you. No bathing required - we are immersing ourselves in the healing qualities of nature!

Quiet your mind and awaken your senses as we sink into the heightened awareness of this special evening experience. Together, we’ll deepen our relationship with nature, community and ourselves.

The best part: there’s no right or wrong way to forest bathe; just bring an open heart, adventurous spirit and be yourself.

Register here: https://ashevillewellnesstours.com/tour/guided-forest-bathing-nature-therapy/