Description

In Germany, where it originated, it is known as “Waldtherapie”, in Japan it is called “Shinrin-yoku” (森林浴) or “Shinrin-ryōhō (森林療法)”, in Korea it is referred to as “Sanlimyok (산림욕)” and in China and Taiwan people call it “Sēnlín liáofǎ (森林療法)”. Here in Australia the practice is known as forest bathing, shinrin yoku, or forest or nature therapy.

Forest bathing is a great way to invite listening, healing, reflection and accepting into our environment in a low impact way. Learn how to find yourself in the company of trees or more succinctly master the practice of creating physical and psychological wellness through immersion in the natural environment at our 2 night, 3 Day Forest Bathing Retreat.

ABOUT CHRISTIE

We are delighted to welcome our collaborator Christie Little back to run our coastal forest therapy retreat.

Christie Little is a holistic psychotherapist, counsellor and retreat facilitator with certifications in Somatic Coaching, Embodied Flow Yoga, Positive Neuroplasticity Training, Biofeedback for Stress and Recovery, Wellness and Nutrition Coaching and Nature therapy. She was the first Nature Therapy guide certified in NSW by the International Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.

Christie regularly spends time in nature both personally and professionally and partners with Experience Nature to offer Forest Bathing sessions in the Southern Highlands. She is the nature connection guide for Pymble Ladies College, Vision Valley Campus. She lives in the Blue Mountains, hikes each day and often spends her weekends solo at her off-grid wilderness property. With more than 15 years experience working with individuals and groups to bring about healing and transformation she now weaves together her broad expertise to meet the unique needs of each individual she has the honour to work with.

Relevant Professional Experience:

• Founder, House of Healing Collective. Holistic Psychotherapy, Counselling and Coaching
• Founder, Frontier Wellbeing, Organisational wellbeing, resilience and performance consultancy (current)
• Stream Leader, Leadership, Homeward Bound, world’s leading global program for women in STEMM, including a month in Antarctica. (current)
• Advisory Consultant & People Lead, Leadership Development, Korn Ferry (Awarded 2020 Leadership Program of the year for Boral Leadership Program)
• Co-Founder The Performance Clinic, Executive Coaching Consultancy now owned by KPMG

Relevant Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor of Economics, First Class Honours, Sydney University
• Graduate Certificate, Change Management, AGSM
• Holistic Psychotherapy and Counselling, Metavision Institute
• Nature Therapy Guide, Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, USA
• Biofeedback for Stress Management and Coaching, International Association of Psychophysiology, USA
• Positive Neuroplasticity Training and Mindfulness, with Dr. Rick Hanson through Openground.
• Somatic Leadership, Strozzi Institute and Coaches Rising. USA
• Wellbeing and Nutrition Coaching, Nature Care College.
• 200 hour Teacher training with Embodied Flow Yoga Institute.
• Permaculture Design Certificate. Studied with David Holmgren.
• Wilderness First Aid Certificate

A typical forest therapy walk may take 2 hours but covers less than 0.5km of trail. Christie ensures that you connect to the present moment through a range of sensory awareness activities. The senses are the gateway to joy and pleasure and too many of us have forgotten how to enjoy our lives. By drawing on the ancient practice of mindfulness and meditation, Christie create the space for participants to pause deeply. The busier we are the more deeply we need to pause.