Interested in becoming a Forest Bathing Guide, but not sure what you need to qualify and train in Forest Bathing? Let me give you an insight.
The certification journey to become a Forest Bathing Guide takes 6+ months and can be split into 6 phases:
- Month 0 – Self Study (optional reading or completion of Discover the Magic of Deep Nature Connection 6 week video course)
- Month 1 – Introduction: 2 days live learning online (10 hours)
- Month 2 – Immersion: 5 days live learning at Houghton Lodge Gardens in Hampshire or online
- Month 3-5 – Integration: Deepen your personal connection to nature and lead 3 trial walks
- Month 6 – Prepare to launch and complete open book assessment
- Month 7+ – Graduation and ongoing support and community.
In this blog, I will explore each phase, what it entails and why it is important. Be assured that with each stage, I set you up for success. Furthermore, over this time you will build an incredible camaraderie with your fellow Forest Bathing Guide trainees.
Video – The realities of being a Forest Bathing Guide
Hey – if you’re someone who wants to get straight into the nitty gritty and find out what life is really like as a Forest Bathing Guide, you might want to watch/listen/read Secrets and Straight Talk. In this free resource, I shed light on some of the questions I’m often asked, such as around earning potential, level of nature knowledge needed, the highs, lows and realities of working with the general public in the great outdoors, and what I wish I’d known from the outset.
Train in Forest Bathing – Breakdown by Month
Month 0 – Self Study
The first stage of your Forest Bathing Guide Training starts with giving you a strong foundation in the history, essence, evidence, benefits and practicalities of Shinrin Yoku / Forest Bathing.
Online, self-paced, video course
At the point of enrollment you immediately receive access to the online course “Discover the Magic of Deep Nature Connection“, which you can work through in your own time. Available as a standalone product priced at £374 but included as a bonus part of the training programme, it’s a mix of theory and practical exercises. You can do the activities at home, in the garden or outside anywhere you feel safe, with my video or audio guidance.
Extensive training manual
Then the extensive manual is sent out a few weeks before the online introduction so that you have some time to familiarise yourself with key concepts and begin your learning journey. This training material acts as your support manual as you progress.
For you to read and study in your own time, the manual covers Nature Connection and Forest Bathing with insights into:
- Principles
- Ethics
- Philosophy
- Science and health benefit evidence
- Best practice
- 50+ invitations
- ‘Done for you’ session plans for various scenarios
- A deep dive into creating and holding the therapeutic container via effective sharing circles – with a nod to my background in counselling that gives you the very best chance of giving your participants an unforgettable and transformative experience.
- How to expand or launch your business
Month 1 – The Introduction (online)
This is 2 days of live learning with me and your fellow Forest Bathing Guide trainees on Zoom.
Orientation – To ensure your overall understanding of your 6 month learning journey.
Learning and practice – Importantly, you have the opportunity to ask questions, explore the concepts, principles, science and impact of the practice, experience me guiding some invitations as well as have a go at guiding some yourself in break-out rooms; this is a very interactive couple of days that always receive excellent feedback.
Relationship building – Our online training days offer a safe space to get to know your fellow Forest Bathing Guide trainees too.
We will discuss themes such as:
- intrinsic worth
- ancestral ways
- animism
- reciprocity
- embodied response
- best practices
- the forest (and nature as a whole) as the therapist
- scenario troubleshooting
You will also be introduced to the Forest Bathing model, process and core invitations and furthermore, you will experience and guide a few together with your first sharing circles.
I also guide you through the practical elements of running your own Forest Bathing workshops and working as a small business owner. We cover everything from practical organisation right through to business planning.
These energetic sessions also include plenty of opportunities for whole group discussion, role play and practical exercises.
Month 2 – Your Immersion Week (online or in-person)
Without a doubt, being together in nature is the most valuable part of training to be a Forest Bathing Guide. The immersion week at Houghton Lodge Gardens is where you hone the practical skills of your newly gained knowledge in a real-world setting.
I am committed to supporting you to get off to the best start when you train in Forest Bathing and Nature Connection Guide with Adore Your Outdoors. I feel it is so important to dedicate a significant amount of time with you to ensure you feel confident and finish our programme feeling like a ‘Forest Bathing expert’. This happens because of all the practice together yes, but also the opportunities to help me deliver an experience for paying customers on day 4 and on the final day, students co-create and deliver a full session with their peers for some volunteer participants.
I invite all of my trainees to commit their time, energy and focus to the immersion week, however I also recognise that travelling to Hampshire isn’t always possible. That’s why the fully online learning path was created and many students have chosen this way to learn. It’s not less, we just act out the scenarios online so you will benefit from having a good imagination.
Over the week, you will learn:
- How to facilitate a full-length Forest Bathing experience
- How to use over 50+ invitations in your own sessions
- How to craft high-quality beginnings and endings
- How to create and hold a safe and nurturing environment
- How to ensure an inclusive and welcoming space
- How to lead invitations that truly add value to your participants
- How to run a sharing circle that touches their souls
- How to handle the unexpected!
Working together with other trainees in your group (who will come to be an amazing support network), you will receive valuable feedback from peers and me throughout as we use the triad approach to practice (observer, guide, participant).
There are shorter courses and ‘quick ways’ to train as a Forest Bathing Guide, but through this immersive practical learning, I witness so much progress and deep connection. For me, this immersion week is a critical part of the training, but above all, it leaves you feeling more confident and ready to move forward. Especially if done face-to-face.
Months 3-5 – Trial Walks and Self Development
I ask for coursework in stages throughout your training, but please do not let this word put you off! Much of this is practical experience and there are no academic-style work or assignments required. Much of the work can be submitted as drawings, photographs or recorded spoken word if you don’t enjoy writing.
Importantly, these assignments aim to encourage your ongoing exploration and deeper connection with nature – not to test you or catch you out! We continue to meet monthly online so I can guide you through the month’s deliverables and provide support.
The assignments are activities that help to integrate and embed what we learn together, especially what you will need to guide others. They are there to further your learning and hone your skills, because we don’t master things by doing them once. Repetition through various scenarios is key.
The coursework includes a variety of tasks, including:
- sit spot diaries to deepen your personal connection to nature
- delivery of three trial walks to groups of at least 4 people (includes walk preparation and write-up)
- working in your buddy group to practice delivering invitations and providing feedback to your buddy.
- recording your delivery of specific invitations – done as an audio or video recording so I can check language, pace, tone and transitions as you move from the introduction, delivery, close and finally into the sharing circle.
- Becoming comfortable with silence.
The coursework helps you to reflect on your experiences and refine your abilities over an extended period of time. I enjoy helping you progress and overcome any hurdles, by giving detailed, personalised and constructive feedback.
Month 6 – Open Book Assessment and Launch Strategy
Time to pin down your vision and business plan! This is often when students call off some of their 1-1 time with Sonya (3 hours is included in the training). Additionally, there is a short open-book exam before the graduation celebration. The graduation is also where I explain everything about what happens next, now that you’re joining the Adore Your Outdoors team of trained Forest Therapy Guides.
Month 7+ – Ongoing Support
Ongoing support is provided through the monthly online circles, a wonderful opportunity for our community of AYO trained Forest Bathing Guides to reconnect for one hour each month. Furthermore, for those training in-person, we get to work together on delivering larger group experiences and also meet up in real life from time to time
Ready to Train in Forest Bathing?
If you’re excited by the different elements of the Forest Bathing Guide Training and want to get started, then check out our upcoming course dates here.
We have six to eight training opportunities across the year, with Spring being the best time to start so you get to do your practical assignments during the longer and hopefully brighter days.
You can view the payment plans and complete the application form on the webpage above too.
If you still have questions, you might want to check out the Secrets and Straight Talk video in which I’ve tried my best to answer all the questions that you can’t get answered on Google.
