NatureMinded

Relationship lessons from nature

This text I wrote originally appeared on March 29th, 2018 on Healing Forest, an amazing initiative that aims to connect people and forests for both of their health. This text is edited by my dear friend and colleague Nitin Das, the man behind the well-loved film, India´s Healing Forests. What can nature teach us aboutContinue reading “Relationship lessons from nature”

Conclusions from Workshop on Connectedness with Nature

On 4th of October 2018, the University of Antwerp, the Province of Antwerp and the Belgian Community of Practice Biodiversity and Health, together with many other organizations, including NatureMinded organized the Natuur op verwijziging (Nature on prescription) – event. As the closing event of the Light on Green project and as part of the HealthcareContinue reading “Conclusions from Workshop on Connectedness with Nature”

IFTDays Seminar 2018 Conclusions

The first international Forest Therapy Days was held in Karjalohja, at Elontuli course center in the beginning of August this year. The seminar was a full day of sharing knowledge, life and work experiences, good practices and forest therapy methodologies. The presentations gave to us a possibility to travel the world and to discover howContinue reading “IFTDays Seminar 2018 Conclusions”

How IFTDays 2018 came to be

We have been asked time and time again, what brought on IFTDays. Here is our story, written a while back already but got buried under all the other work. The idea for this event started brewing in the hearts and minds of two Finnish forest therapy practitioners. Heidi Korhonen, a project manager from the southwesternContinue reading “How IFTDays 2018 came to be”

1st International Forest Therapy Days 2018 (opening words by Katriina & Heidi)

Welcome, forest friends, to the first International Forest Therapy Days! We have named this event International Forest Therapy Days. But as it happens, the definition seems to still hang in the air. Who practices forest therapy? A human being to a human being in the forest environment? Who is the therapist anyway? Theift up ourContinue reading “1st International Forest Therapy Days 2018 (opening words by Katriina & Heidi)”

Interview with Mr. Amos Clifford: Engaging in the healing dialogue between humans and other-than-humans

One of guest speakers of this summers´ First International Forest Therapy Days event is Mr. Amos Clifford, the founder of the American Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. ANFT has trained and certified 384 forest therapy guides across the globe. We are honored to have Mr. Clifford speaking at the seminar, and a guiding atContinue reading “Interview with Mr. Amos Clifford: Engaging in the healing dialogue between humans and other-than-humans”

Introducing Nitin Das, the forest film maker from the Himalayas

You´ve probably already seen the beautiful promotional film of the International Forest Therapy Days. It has been made by Nitin Das, the forest filmmaker from India. Nitin has the exceptional ability to capture people’s attention by telling fascinating stories of uncommon people and extraordinary forests. Nitin is currently working on a series of films, one ofContinue reading “Introducing Nitin Das, the forest film maker from the Himalayas”

Interview with Dr. Iwao Uehara

Interview with Dr. Iwao Uehara, the man from the pine forest This summer, NatureMinded & Forest Therapy Today are organizing the first International Forest Therapy Days in beautiful southern Finland. This event brings together practitioners of forest therapy, as well as scientists, health care professionals and natural resource management representatives to discuss and better alignContinue reading “Interview with Dr. Iwao Uehara”

Winter post #2: Big splash in the bucket

This weekend my friends and I treated ourselves to a weekend at the sea at an ocean front apartment. Oostende was recuperating from a northwestern storm called Dieter that made some big waves and caused the gusts of wind to be mighty powerful. These gusts also brought ashore a bunch of seabirds that would normally not makeContinue reading “Winter post #2: Big splash in the bucket”

Enabling daily explorations in nature

Growing up in Finland in a small town, we had a wonderful little forest close to and a big yard around our apartment building. There were varied terrains: stones and rocks, little hills and slopes, bushes, and trees to climb into. By spending hours and hours on that yard waiting for friends to come outContinue reading “Enabling daily explorations in nature”