Forest Bathing in Basingstoke, Hampshire

A few days ago I went Forest Bathing in the Harold Hillier Gardens with my daughter. At the start of the session I was focused on being aware of all that was going on around me, but Sonya guided us to notice the beauty in small details. Bonding with a daffodil was a first for me! I loved her mindful meditation, and experiencing the feel of the breeze between my fingers. So simple, but so grounding. I shall definitely be back later in the year!

At the start of the session we felt intrigued and didn’t really know what to expect but definitely had an open mind. Sonya was amazing and explained everything so well. Her passion for this really makes the whole journey enjoyable. The session was unique and interesting, we had never heard of forest bathing before this. It really made us connect with ourselves and nature. We were guided through using our senses differently and it’s something we will all take away and use to bring peace and mindfulness in our daily lives. At the end of the session we felt grateful, appreciative and comforted by what we had been taught by Sonya. It’s something we will remember for the rest of our lives.The session made us think about things that wouldn’t have otherwise have crossed our minds. The detail, the intricacies and beauty of nature is something that is to be admired on a small scale as well and this is what we will definitely be taking away. Being at one with nature is how we should try to live our lives and this was a big part of this experience.It definitely brings you back down to earth which is something we all need with our busy lifestyles.Having this experience alone is powerful but sharing it with family in an environment like this is even better as we were all able to experience something so special together. Life is all about strengthening relationships and connecting with each other and nature individually and collectively….which is exactly what this experience allowed us to do.We would definitely recommend this for everyone. Spending time outdoors is so important for our mental health and Sonya was a brilliant guide during this practice.

In a small group Sonya the owner of adore your outdoors gave us an overview of what the next few hours would bring. We were led to a clearing and encouraged to lie down on our mats. I am so glad I did. The experience of laying on the forest floor under the trees listening to bird song and being gently guided on a meditation was just bliss. The next few hours flew by. I came away realising that I really haven’t ever stopped and looked at nature in the way I now will. A beautiful experience finding yourself in nature.

I booked this amazing experience for my friends' birthdays, as we all have hectic lives and needed time out. The forest was a beautiful, restful place and with Sonia's gentle guidance we learned to slow down and appreciate nature. I took away a deep sense of peace which stayed with me all day. I would highly recommend to anyone who is feeling exhausted and struggles to relax.

My friend Jennie and I went Forest Bathing with Sonya and it was absolutely incredible!I've always done a bit more than just walk in the woods, tuning in to my senses, pausing to connect with nature, and I had taken part in an hour long Forest Bathing session the week before at a wellbeing festival, but OH MY GOODNESS this 3-hour immersion in the woodland run by the wonderful Sonya of @adoreyouroutdoors was amazing!From the first invitation to lay down on the forest floor for a guided meditation as the sunshine filtered through the leaves (komorebi) to the crossroads exercise, treasure hunt and, my personal favourite, choosing our very own beech tree to breathe with. It was so therapeutic. I loved laying beneath my chosen tree and spotted a white feather on its bark ❤ And there was a bramble tea ceremony to finish. ☕I went to research the experience for my @TreeGlee book about how and why trees make us feel good, but I left with an even deeper connection to the natural world and to humanity too, as the experience was shared with some lovely women.I can testify that the science and research about shinrin yoku is true and I feel so grateful that I get to research and write about this wonderful topic: how and why trees make us feel good. 🙏💚🌲🌳 There's so much to it, and it's a joy to discover, learn and connect more deeply. 🌲💚🙏I can't recommend Sonya's Forest Bathing sessions enough - if you are looking to connect more deeply with nature or simply need some time out to reset and rejuvenate, Sonya is the real deal and she has a knack for knowing the best local places to forest bathe in. You can tell she's qualified properly in Forest Bathing and she makes you feel really comfortable. A wonderful experience. Thank you Sonya.

I had a wonderful experience with Sonya at the Harold Hillier Gardens. I wasn't sure what to expect and when I found myself getting very emotional it was a surprise, but not in a bad way.I had forgotten how wonderful Mother Nature can be.As a child I lived in nature every day and I was taken straight back to those happy, untroubled times by Sonya guiding us to listen to the sound of the wind in the trees, the touch of the leaves with my fingers and remembering the scent of the earth.I intend to connect with Mother Nature much more and to encourage my family to do the same.Thank you Sonya xx