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Jess Thenhaus, Urban Forest Therapy
26 Plays2 months ago
- Join the TheraSisterStL to learn more about Jess Thenhaus and forest bathing. Jess is an ANFT-certified Forest and nature Therapy Guide and a Nationally Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach. She is on a mission to help busy people living in urban environments recover peace in the present moment. Integrating the restorative power of nature with somatic mindfulness and trauma-informed care, she guides you toward a harmonious balance between your physical and emotional self. We also learn more about Jess, her definition of healing, and her healing.
Reach out to Jess Thenhaus HERE
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Transcript
Introduction of Hosts and Guest
00:00:00
amycryan
Are we starting? Yes, we're starting! Hello! Hello, Thera Sisters are here! I'm Catherine Barton. I'm Amy Camp Ryan. And we are so excited today to introduce Jen Tenhouse. Jess. Sorry. Jess Tenhouse. See, we made mistakes. It happens all the time, it's like my other name, I don't know. And she's standing over there waiting for us to first talk about what's going on in our lives, what's happening.
00:00:27
amycryan
Oh, Thomas had a sixth grade orientation today. So I got to drop him off and he's there. Um, yeah, so it was a good test for morning. We had to go. It was at eight school doesn't school starts at 751. So it was an ease into it went well. I was really impressed. He did great. He went to bed on time. I didn't have to do anything. yy And he got up and Yeah, it's good. Yay! How about you? Oh, so today is our mom's birthday. Oh yes, happy birthday mom. And that's super fun. And today we're driving to Lawrence, Kansas after we get all of our work done and we're going to have a fun weekend. Celebrating and celebrating Catherine's birthday, which is on the 17th. Yeah, fun time times. Well, we're ready. Come on Jess, come on in.
00:01:18
amycryan
house Hi. Thank you guys for having me. Happy early birthday. Happy birthday, mom. Yes, thank you. yeah So, some herb? No, that's me. No, it is. Yes, That's us. Urban, forest, baby. Therapy. This is my job. And I'm just new job. Oh, man.
Mission of Urban Forest Therapy
00:01:42
amycryan
great today fun so just ten house with urban forest therapy yes well And so tell us about Urban Forest Therapy. Tell us about Forest Therapy. It's such a cool thing. It is, yes. So my organization, Urban Forest Therapy, the mission is really to help people realize we don't have to go far, to have a meaningful connection with nature.
00:02:04
amycryan
I am a board certified health and wellness coach and also a certified forest and nature therapy guide. And so it's really my mission to help people realize that nature is a really accessible tool for health and a pathway to presence, which is really kind of at the core. core of my work. It's really about helping people that live in urban environments. you know We're all so busy and distracted in life and just going from one thing to the next, slow down. yeah yes Tell me more about Pathway to
Pathway to Presence and Mindfulness
00:02:35
amycryan
Presence. like As you said that, I was like, ooh, I want to know more about that. Presence is really at the core of my work and I know one of your questions was like about healing. yeah
00:02:45
amycryan
For me, healing has really been a journey of being able to be fully present with myself. And so when I say pathways to presence, there are lots of entry points into presence. And I know you talk a lot about this too. Yes, mindfulness. Yeah. hu And so when I think about being present, it's it's about being here in this moment right now.
00:03:06
amycryan
not like in our minds, like our thinking brains when we're thinking forward about the future or thinking about what happened in the past or however we're getting stuck on that. yeah um And when we are fully present with ourselves, it's also when I think about that connection to health, it's about how Am I listening to my body? how am i How connected am I to what I'm doing in my life, whether that's the way that we're eating, the lifestyle choices we're making, the amount of stress that we're not managing. hip um And how well we are able to actually kind of get that feedback from our body so that we can do the things that we need to do to take care of ourselves. And so, yeah, yeah we're so often not fully here in our bodies and present.
00:03:54
amycryan
And so I feel like it's kind of funny because that's not necessarily how I market myself, but it is really at the core of my work is helping people find that presence. And when we can hear messages from our body, whether it's, you know, the food that you're eating that is upsetting your stomach, but you you're not really making that connection because you're so in here and you're not like even seeing it because you're going through life, right? And we're just trying to like take a seat. Yes. yeah And so it's about having the ability to slow down with that and really be there with that. And then it's also from like a, just a ah sense of peace. And so I call it a piece of presence. And so like peace, okay like peace, but also like a piece of presence in our lives of being able to be peaceful and happy. And I mean, I guess it doesn't have to be happy, but just at peace with whatever is going on for us. I like that. Yeah. And the,
00:04:47
amycryan
presence of body, right? We as therapists, we talk about listening to our body. And so that connection is so important to understand, right? Like, how does my body feel when I'm starting to get angry or anxious or sad, right? And we're happy, right? So yeah, that is so important to that.
00:05:08
amycryan
consciousness, that presence of body. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. therapy And is a somatic practice. So it really is about soma. It just means in the body. We hear that a lot these days, but it's about being in your body and also experiencing forest and and nature. And that doesn't have to be like a forest, but in some sort of nature connection, even if it's like an indoor with a plant or looking out a window, but really kind of incorporating all of our senses to connect with that. And that when I say pathway to presence, nature is one way to get there.
00:05:41
amycryan
pretty easy for most people. um I mean obviously there are exceptions if people don't like being outside or they really don't like nature but um there there are other pathways too and I and know you talk a lot about journaling so like creative expression is one pathway to presence whether that's a creative
Healing Benefits of Nature
00:05:58
amycryan
endeavor or writing movement with our body which is also creative expression is another way to really get present and get into our body and so with force and nature therapy. I love it because, well I've always loved nature because I've always been part of my own healing. I never really realized that there was a framework to help people connect with that from a health perspective until I did my training. but um So it's really about being in the moment and getting out of that thinking brain and using all of our senses to experience nature. And so that brings us into our body, but also that sense of presence and also slows us down. Sure. Yes. Yes. Well, I was just going to say, how did you find the forest? To be honest, I've never heard of it until I found you on Instagram. I'm like, oh wow this is cool. And I liked that.
00:06:56
amycryan
Yeah, it's not a hard sell. Most people are like, yes, nation therapy, of course. So of my clients, so prior to this organization, I have another business that's marketing and advertising. And one of my clients that came to me and and she actually was from Australia and she was a coach, a health coach, and she had forest bathing as part of the events that she offered. And I was like,
00:07:23
amycryan
What happened to that? And this was several years ago. So force meeting that term, and I can share a little bit about where that's from. but um So I heard about it from a client. And once I read about it and and understood, oh wow, this is about bringing people to nature and helping people slow down in nature, it was a no-brainer. And I, of course, did a quick Google search. And the first thing that came up was the ANFT, which is the Association of Force and Nature Therapy. okay which is that's where I, at the time they didn't offer the kind of training, like it was only an in-person training. It wasn't really something that I was able to, and I had a smart child at the time. But fast forward pandemic, everybody finally came online. They brought their program online. And so I was able then to kind of do that. And that was at the pandemic was really kind of a turning point for me as it was for most people of really wanting to kind of reboot my health and wellness coaching, which I've been a health coach since 2010.
00:08:17
amycryan
But I kind of, once I had my son put that, when I realized I was going to have all this other energy going towards another resource, I put that aside and kind of went behind the scenes in people's businesses, the marketing and advertising.
00:08:29
amycryan
Um, but when that kind of happened, it was just the right time for me to also realize, wow, like the whole world is really struggling right now. And of course, after, you know, several years, the fallout of that of people feeling disconnected and isolated and it's still affecting. Yeah. So now you guys know this so well. It was just my call to pivot back into service of helping people with their health and wellness. and So, I know it's a long story, but... No, that's great. Well, in forest bathing, right, that became popular. So, yeah, so forest bathing's actually been around for a long time. I mean, actually, like, the concept of it has been around forever, right? Like, we as humans have evolved with nature over eons, well, as long as we've been here. So, um but it the term was coined in the 80s in Japan, and it's a direct translation of, this is the the Japanese lettering, it's it and I'm not going to say it right, but it's shindering yoku. And that directly translates to bathing in the atmosphere of the forest. And so just a little bit of the backstory with that is that in the 80s, they saw a change in economy, right, along with the rest of the world where we had this technology boom.
00:09:37
amycryan
And the Ministry of Health over there saw a huge uptake in stress-related illnesses. So things like high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, even you know heart-related diseases, just anything stress-related. And so the Japanese Ministry of Health launched a series of research projects to try to figure out how can we improve this problem. One of those was what effect does the environment that you're in have on our health. and from there they discovered a whole bunch of amazing interesting things but also 35 plus years of scientific research shows us that spending time outside in nature is good for us from a biological perspective like it actually lowers our blood pressure and improve our heart rate variability it can even lower our blood sugar which is amazing just from spending time outside um but it also just most people like know when they're outside and they're you know just kind of absorbing nature and being in it they just feel better like I know I do. Most people get it really easy. Just so nice yeah and peaceful. and
00:10:37
amycryan
yeah So, yeah, so that became in Japan, it's actually something that they'll prescribe and they'll have certified... Can we get there? I know, well, we're moving in that direction. There's a big boom in force in nature therapy, so if you haven't heard of it yet, I'm sure you will. There's a lot of... The organization that I studied at is, I think, one of the biggest ones in the States and they are, you know,
Forest Bathing Experience
00:11:01
amycryan
growing and growing and and training more and more guides.
00:11:04
amycryan
So <unk>s amazing yeah, So what does like, so when someone comes for a forest bathing session in time with you, what does that look like? Paint me a picture. Sure. So I do, I do offer like in-person walks and then I'm also starting to offer some virtual options cause I've got some friends from other places too. But essentially I like to say it's an alone together experience. Um, and it is a trauma informed experience in that it isn't,
00:11:34
amycryan
It's meant for you to experience however you feel is best for you. So um we typically in a group of people and I'll kind of give an explanation about what we're doing, what this is, why it's important. And then I offer a series of invitations. And so those invitations vary. Some of them are um initially like very guided kind of to help you get back into your body this sensory awakening so kind of like a little bit of a guided meditation more outside though we're in the grass and then some of those invitations are invitations that i'll give you and then you will kind of wander out and do what you want with invitation that language is very intentional because it is meant to be
00:12:16
amycryan
adjusted for you and however you feel right. So invitation meaning you don't have to do it like this. If you don't like it, you can do something else. Um, you can do it altered in any way. And it's, so I call it a guided walk because we do cover a little bit of ground, but it's really, it's not like a hike. It's not like we're, you know, identifying naturalists. I'm not giving naturalist information. It's not like we're looking at trees and identifying them. Right. It's really just about being with nature. And so an example of one of those invitations might be what's in motion. And so I say alone together because I'll deliver the invitation to the group and it'll, for example, what's in motion is, okay, we're going to take a slow wander here and we're going to walk at a pace that's much slower than what you're used to, which that right there is usually like the first in people are like, What? And then we'll just be noticing what's in motion around us. And so it gives people kind of like a focus of, okay, so I'm going to look down on the ground to see what's moving. I'm going to look up in the sky. I'm going to just look at what's around me. And when we do that and couple, of course, with the slow movement,
00:13:22
amycryan
It really, it's almost like, and I've i've heard, you I'm sure you've read The Power of Now with Edgar Tolle. Oh, yeah so yeah. So one of the things that he says is like the best way to like get present is to like stop and and listen. Like as if you were waiting for somebody to call your name.
00:13:38
amycryan
and so a lot of these major connection invitations are like that where you're just getting lost in the moment and you're really sinking into it because most of the time when we spend time outside we're either trying to exercise maybe we're listening to a podcast maybe we're trying to get to the top of a mountain like whatever we're doing which all of those things are amazing but the difference is that the invitations are designed to help you slow down and and really just be in it and I know can you've come to an event. so And then I say alone together because we'll experience an invitation for maybe 10, 15, 20 minutes, depending on how long the session is. And then we'll come back together and as a group, we'll have an opportunity to share. That's also optional. It's an invitation. And it's just a simple problem of prompt of what are you noticing.
00:14:19
amycryan
And what's really amazing about these shares in Karen, or Katherine, maybe you can say something about that, is that every single group that I've ever had, it's almost like it's like magically curated together with people because people will come back with some either, you know, something that might range from the very like literal to I noticed that there was this butterfly and it was going up and down and I saw it do this and it was really cool to, I noticed that the leaves on that tree were dying but there was fresh growth coming up and it reminded me that my grandmother just passed and like the cycle of life and it created this space where I had this huge emotional release and so it ranges and I think that there's something really
00:15:00
amycryan
just special. And this is part of, so it is a relational practice too, and that we get to see each other through this different lens and people tend to be very open. and It doesn't always have to be that they have to be that it's not required or anything, but people tend to feel very safe and comfortable to be able to say things like that because the circle is not a judgment. We're not, it's not therapy. Like what you guys do, we're not making evaluations on anything. It's just an opportunity to to say and be witnessed really, which is also can be very healing. And so,
00:15:30
amycryan
Then we'll go and we'll do another invitation and come back together. and So yeah, that's kind of like experience. I just wanted to share a little bit of my experience. in it was It was wonderful because I wasn't sure what to expect. It was in Forest Park and it was a little group and we went for a walk. and And I remember walking quick at the beginning, but like thinking about that intentionally of slowing down and paying attention. And I think even in the beginning I was chit chatting with another woman and then eventually we kind of like stopped and we're like oh no that's not what we're doing here
00:16:02
amycryan
We made a connection, which was cool. But then I also remember um almost wanting and feeling like I needed a purpose initially, you know, like I need a goal or whatever. And it was really nice to get that reminder of no, that's not what this is. This is to be present. This is to notice these things and to bring up what I'm noticing and sharing. And it really did feel very comfortable once I let myself be in that space and really talk about what I was noticing. And I just, I can, remember I can think back and I can vividly remember sitting on a log and just like in the middle of all this grass. And I was like, I want to, I don't know if one of the invitations was like zoom in or something, but, but I like zoomed in and was just like, there's a whole other world.
00:16:48
amycryan
on the ground i saw ants and spiders and all these like bugs and all these pieces of grass and i was just like oh my gosh this is happening right all around me the same time i'm walking around doing whatever i'm doing all of this other stuff is happening in the world yeah it was just a really cool thing and then i still have my little scroll that handed out at the end and um and then at the end you do a little tea i do and i love that yes yes we close with it just ah a little tea party and it's just a great way to kind of reincorporate back into the real world because a lot of times I mean these sessions are usually between one to two and a half sometimes even three hours depending on how long people have and and what the intention is but so we really do kind of get into this space where we're just like super like calm and where it's like if you've been out on vacation for a long time it's that feeling of like yeah I feel great and then it's like gotta go back to work so it's like we have a little tea party to kind of reincorporate yeah get back into you know the real world share any last bits that we want to share about the experience and and most people leave and I care maybe arc but
00:18:04
amycryan
most people leave feeling just like oh I really needed that like I just got that unwind that release that is you know as we're going through life and myself included right like I'm super busy like I have to check myself a lot to say just Come on, walk the talk here. like Let's take that time to go drop in. and But yeah, so we just don't, and I remember the first time I experienced it, which was actually remotely, like and with one year, but I was like, seriously, I'm supposed to sit here with this this tree or whatever for like 15
Personal Healing Journey through Nature
00:18:38
amycryan
minutes? I have stuff to do. And it's just a testament of how conditioned we are. and
00:18:44
amycryan
the society that we live in to be productive to be constantly doing. yeah yeah yeah And that stacks up so I mean I'm sure like you guys could speak to the effect that that has on us from an emotional well-being perspective. Oh yeah it does right it like you said it stacks up it builds up it creates overwhelm and stress and and you know all sorts of tightness. There's a physical component yeah and then it affects our relationships. and room So we've It is important to have those moments of yeah yeah reset. And the nice thing I think about nature therapy is that it's very accessible. I mean, it's amazing if you can come on a guided session with somebody because you get to really drop in, you have a timekeeper, like you're not
00:19:29
amycryan
Yeah, you're doing your own. But anybody can do it anywhere. It's not rocket science. And I think that's part of so many things with health. Coming back to this holistic thing, it's not this crazy Technique that you need to have all this understanding around you can step outside and be intentional with the time the five minutes Maybe that you're having your coffee and you're like, I'm just gonna watch this like I'm gonna look closely at my plants today or I'm gonna touch this plant which is another thing that we've kind of like live in this world where We're like, I shouldn't touch anything I like to tell people on my on my walks or in my sessions like this is your chance to get weird in the woods like Nobody's gonna dent you are like you can just like go up to that tree and touch the texture and see if maybe you want to see what it feels like in your cheek like i don't know yeah
00:20:19
amycryan
yeah but I think ah anybody need can do it. and' so so It's so accessible and it's something that we can incorporate into our day. It doesn't have to, like it's great. I love, I want you to come to ah you know an hour long or two hour long and people are like, I can't spend that much time outside, but then they're like, oh, wow, they went by so quick by the end. But also you can weave it into your day or your week and just, it's easy and free and accessible and it's a matter of intention. Yes, yes.
00:20:50
amycryan
Yeah, everything that you're saying is what I use for mindfulness, right? Because I think a lot of times, some people think mindfulness is like meditation, right? Where there's this 20 minute, 30 minute, like, still in the mind. But mindfulness is more like what you're talking about throughout your day. You're touching, you're tasting, you're smelling, you're feeling, you're listening, all these things, right? And so, um yeah, totally connecting with that. Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:18
amycryan
So then I'm curious about did you use this kind of modality for healing for yourself? Oh yeah. Yeah. i So my whole life I've known that nature, I used to call it like my ability to time travel because like I would go, when you from the time I was like 16, like I remember as long as I was old enough to get a car, like I was like, let's go camping. Like i I was fortunate my mom was a program director at a summer camp and my dad like summer camp. So I spent my summers as a child outside. You knew how to do it. I always knew that I loved being in it. And as I got older and you know became a working person and you know like started school and doing life and everything, it was always like, okay, let's go to the woods, let's get to the woods, let's go to the woods. And I would notice when I was there that after a day or two of just like that outdoor time, I would just feel so calm and relaxed and time would just kind of like stretch out. you know
00:22:17
amycryan
And then I'd come back and they'd be like, oh gosh, gotta go, gotta go, gotta go. And then it would be a matter of like, oh, when can I go? When can I go? And so I've always known that it was really healing. And then of course, as I got older, it was like, okay, let's go for hikes. Let's go do these other, you know, really organized things.
00:22:32
amycryan
But I think after becoming a parent, and also especially during the time of the pandemic, you know, like when we were like, we can't be close to people, it was like my time outside my walks outside at Forest Park, which is one of my favorite haunts. That was my healing for that time. And that was such a And it's, you know, the whole world is so divided. Like it was like that time, not only was like crazy physical health perspective, but I feel like things to just in the States blew up. You know, a lot of stuff within my own personal family that would kind of quit. And so that was like healing for me. And it was around that time too, that I just started the training. and so
00:23:13
amycryan
I still, I mean every day, it's part of my practice to at least make sure I'm getting outside for some part of the day. And I like to start my days with a walk. That's not for everybody, but that's an easy way to make sure that I get it in. And when I go out on a walk, I usually drag my my kid.
00:23:30
amycryan
and you know I'll do different things like okay today I'm gonna look for the color blue and I'm so like to try to like bring me into the moment or today I'm gonna make sure I stop and touch like every little texture that looks appealing to me or I'm gonna stop and take a picture of this and I used to be a photographer so like I get the hole through the lens linking to even though I'm like let's put down our devices I also know that some people experience likes to experience things that way and brings them joy and that's me too so um Yeah, I try to have a little thing like that to help me slow down um and just incorporating it throughout my days. i i While this is my full-time work, I'm also a health coach, so a lot of my sessions are online. I do ah a lot of do all my own marketing, so all of that. I've been in everything for my business that I handle.
00:24:18
amycryan
So I'm at Just Alive. Yeah, you guys know I'm an employee entrepreneur. But so that means I have to say just. cut, go sit in the front lawn for a few minutes. I mean literally it's that simple like put my hands in the grass and grounding is like a whole other thing. It's not necessarily inextricably tied to this but sitting in the grass for me is very relaxing. Sometimes at the end of the day like we'll go in the backyard and we'll just lift them out of the tree and look at things um but even surrounding myself with plants. So yes it's definitely
00:24:51
amycryan
part of my own healing journey. It always has been, but now that I'm like super intentional about it, it's very powerful. And it's a low lift. It's not like, okay, I gotta go pack up all my stuff and go on this backpacking trip to experience. It's like, I felt like I had to go. Sometimes you don't even have to put shoes on. Yes, exactly. It's even better. I know it's interesting in our, where we are now in society, like,
00:25:18
amycryan
um if you don't have your phone in your hand or something and you're sitting in a doctor's office or the airplane or outside it's like Weird, right? And I do try to be more intentional of like, you know what, I'm just gonna sit here or look at this magazine, it's still something. Or just sit here and observe people perhaps. um Or just sit on the plane and look out the window and it makes me like a buddy. Are you just gonna stare at the back of the chair? Yes. No, I'm good.
00:25:56
amycryan
It's just like yeah getting out there and just noticing what's around us instead of just looking down. and yeah I think that forest bathing and all of your intentions can really You know, maybe help promote people to just put things down while they're waiting for something. Even at a restaurant, like if my partner gets up to go to the bathroom, my initial thing will be, oh, John, I fell. And I'm like, no, I'm just going to sit here. right He's going to be gone for two minutes. yeah And I'll just sit here for two minutes. And like you said, just kind of be there and not have to be distracted or feel like I have to get something done that two minutes.
00:26:37
amycryan
yeah and just yeah yeah yeah And I do I one thing that I do love when I'm like going for walks especially in the fall time is I love crunching news I love the feel and I love the sound and then whenever I see moss I typically Yeah touch you yeah was like so and she's like yeah what you love which and now she's can let's all here Alright, let's get weird in the woods. Did you see what it sounds like? The moss has a sound too. So we had to be really still and quiet to listen to it though, but yeah. Now I want to go listen to the moss. I'm usually walking like on the streets in my in the city, so hopefully it can be quiet enough that I can hear the moss. I like to stomp on the acorn cheeks. Those are good.
00:27:32
amycryan
have to get a good one yeah not always good now yeah like it's good right i know he's not going that even they like yeah yeah yeah that doesn't matter cru that's awesome yeah yeah nature healing yeah Yeah, super easy, super accessible. And it doesn't cost anything. So I mean, even if you can't get out, look out the window or a house plant nearby, I'm pointing your chip over here. And even there's even research showing that even just you are going to pull up your screen, looking at images of nature also has an effect on us. I mean, it's, you yeah, go ahead. I was wondering if you, I read that somewhere. I'm like, I wonder if you posted that, Yeah, probably. Yeah, so it's I mean, there's just something really soothing and calming about it. And it's just one of the tools for your tool bag. you're Like, I mean, you guys talk about a lot of different athlete ways to get there. But like you're saying to have a guide to come and that you can rely on to help you have that intention, right to be aware of the time so that you can truly immerse yourself in the bath of foresting yeah
00:28:42
amycryan
you know i think that's just it yeah that's great yeah Yeah, I mean, it's like yoga, like we can do yoga at home or we can watch a video. But when you go to a class, it's a little bit different. You're more in the moment. You're maybe more in your body. You're not necessarily disconnecting and thinking about the other things. And that I think is one of the benefits of. ah attending something like that. And then also the community piece. I feel like a big part after pandemic and just I think the way we are now is that we kind of live very isolated and in these little solos. And even though we're like connected, we're more connected than we ever were with technology. We're also kind of disconnected from other people in a lot of ways. And you know, like we're all used to like looking at people's lives through Instagram or Facebook, which I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. but
00:29:30
amycryan
There's something different about being in an experience with somebody and getting to share the energy. There's an energy when we meet yeah it face to face. and and we can like touch it, you know? Yeah. It's just, yeah. Yeah. And that's, like I said, that feels almost like it's like magic every time a group comes together. Cause it's usually, there's so a couple of people that relate on very similar things and not just not, ah I don't mean to make it sound like super hippy dippy or whatever, but there's just something about really feeling that other people get what you're saying or that there's other people that are going through or somebody says something and they're like, I never thought of it that way. Like, yeah.
00:30:07
amycryan
that's such a different perspective or reframe, like I like that, you know? And so that those opportunities, it's it's different than when you're on your own. So 100%. And I wonder, so I'm also curious about how did you come to the idea of the tea at the end? So that is part of the practice and the training. It is because as you think about it, I mean, like really we are,
00:30:35
amycryan
And while it's not the depth of therapy that you guys get into, it is taking people into a space and people are, and they're opening up and they're unfolding. And I don't necessarily mean like both verbally, like a lot of this healing happens within you without anybody having to say or do anything. And and so it's kind of like when you're, it's almost like a a journey that you're going on,
00:31:01
amycryan
And it's about that reincorporation and really preparing people that this is now we're closing this out, giving people that opportunity. It is a little bit of ceremony. And I don't just say that word because I don't want it to be like appropriative. It's like, it's not like a tea ceremony, but it is very much in that like kind of like three stage, probably what you're referring to kind of like where there's the way we dip in, we kind of go in and that's with that initial sensory awakening invitation.
00:31:29
amycryan
and then we're experiencing it and that's when we're in this kind of almost liminal state and like people get really chill like and so we don't I don't want anybody to be really jarred back into real life like they're like now they pull out their phone and they got 20 text messages and all hell broke loose while they were peacing out in the woods so it's like this opportunity to kind of close things out give people an opportunity to share anything else that they want to say about the experience to feel complete with it And the tea is just a nice community way, too, to close. And so, you know, at that time, people, if they want to chat, they want to hang out and chat with other people there because they made connections, like, I know that was for you. And um then that's the chance to do that. So, yeah. Yeah. Keep part of it. I like that. And, ah you know, it is I think tea is a comforting, right? It's comforting. Yeah. um I wish you were explaining that and talking about, you know, it's really about people
00:32:26
amycryan
unfolding within themselves and it made me think about just how empowering that can be because if you're doing all that work on yourself and you're feeling the benefits and you know it's all kind of this internal within you, that's pretty powerful, right? Instead of, of course, I'm not dissing therapy because I'm a therapist and I love it. it's So important. It is so important. But you know to recognize I can take care of myself. right I can do my healing, I can do this. yeah yeah That's amazing. yeah And people, I mean like I said, like and you know this too in your work, like some of the work happens when they're talking to you and a lot of it happens when they're out living life and experiencing things and then like trying new things. And so when you're out in nature, the amazing
00:33:11
amycryan
one of the amazing things is that like nature's not judging us. So if we're having this emotional moment and we're just going to break down and ugly cry with a tree, like the tree is not going to go laugh at you or whatever.
Relational Practice with Nature
00:33:24
amycryan
And that sense of that to get like, and also I guess this is another aspect of forest nature therapy. So there's a lot of layers of depth to it is that it is a relational practice. So it is about how we relate to ourselves, right? So it's the idea that you're hoping you're going to connect with yourselves, but I'm also hoping you're going to,
00:33:41
amycryan
connect with the land and connect with nature in a way that we are inextricably linked to nature. We are part of nature. We're not on top of nature. We are actually nature. So when we're in that environment, it's easy for us to forget that in this industrious world that we have created and the walls that we put up around ourselves. But ultimately, we are part of nature. so It's about kind of really seeing that. And I think when people remember I'm a part of a bigger puzzle, that kind of also helps them to feel more at ease, to maybe let go of some things where we get kind of really focused on that's just me. um And also it's, I hope that they, you know, see the resource of nature as
00:34:25
amycryan
something that should be cared for and protected. And so it's also at like ah the center about creating stewardship for the earth. So recognizing that it's so important to our existence, but also wow, it's really supporting me too. Yeah. So how would you define healing? So I really think healing comes when you are able to be with yourself and to be in the moment without immense suffering or pain. And so I kind of lean more towards the Buddhist thought of being in the here and now. And um I think that it's a real problem in the world that we are constantly numbing out or trying to distract ourselves with things. And
00:35:14
amycryan
We may not always even be aware of it. And so I think that's where the biggest like have health problems come in is that we're just not, we're checked out. And so we're just kind of going through some motions. And again, this is kind of like tying back to that connection with ourselves where we're not realizing that what we're doing is affecting us physically, the choices that we make.
00:35:32
amycryan
that creates stress in our lives or that the stress in our lives is being created that we're not actively taking care of that creates problems in the body and also mentally and physically. So to me healing is when you're able to be here and to be with yourself in a place of contentment. And that doesn't mean that you're like, Oh, I'm happy. Everything in my life is great. It means that I'm here.
00:35:56
amycryan
things are really shitty maybe and I'm like, okay, but I'm here and I'm going to take another step and I'm going to be able to manage it. And having that kind of like sense of self assuredness maybe is the word or self it's not confidence in like, oh, I'm confident in front of people, but confident in yourself and your abilities to be able to do what you need to do in life. And sometimes that's really hard work and sometimes things are easy going and it's great. And, um, So it's about trusting yourself and knowing that whenever I'm in, you know, positive, negative, hard, easy, I can do it. Yeah. And being able to be in that stillness with yourself. I think that we created kind of a world where stillness is unusual. yes So like i like you were saying when you first came to the walk, it was like, I need a focus. I need something to do again because it's not typical or normal for us to just
00:36:49
amycryan
be still. And so um I think it's really about being able to have that connection with yourself because and when we are connected to ourselves and when we have that that sense of, okay, like there's a trust here, it's easier to have relation, like to, to be who you want to be and need to be in relationships to support other people in your life or to make the changes that you need to make in terms of what you're doing with your life or your career. And if we don't have that, if we're kind of like too much elsewhere, then you you know may not even realize, Oh, this is all right. No wonder I'm so miserable or whatever. Yes. Or it gets to a point where you yeah your blood pressure has gone up to a dangerous level or you just got to check yourself. Yeah. Right. And well, so generally most of the people that I work with tend to be people in the helping professions because we helpers often can forget that like it's important to take care of ourselves too. And so I think that a lot of times people will have the best of intentions of wanting to, maybe they're a caregiver or maybe they are in a professional as a teacher or mental health professional or medical professional that, you know, it's so busy taking care of other people that they don't realize that
00:38:02
amycryan
all that energy they're putting into other people is taking a toll on them. So yeah, I it's important that we have that for ourselves. Yeah. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah. Well, and of course, real quick, um, of course I'm also thinking about how this could show up in relationships and with couples and yeah things like that and how this kind of an experience could be really beneficial even just for a couple to kind of experience that, um,
00:38:33
amycryan
individualness together you know in nature but also with your partner and how that could be like a really neat connection. Definitely, and I've had couples come to my events, couples that were celebrating their anniversary, and just like as a nice way to experience time outside together, but also slowing down. Like I said, it's not typical for us to do that, and and especially in relationships, like we have a partner in life, we have worked with kids, or even if we don't, we're like, take ah take care of the house, go take care of this, I got to take care of that, oh my mom needs this, you know, and we're doing all the things and partnership together that way, but
00:39:06
amycryan
that time to just be as beautiful. Awesome. I like that. Cool. Well, I mean, I guess the next step and or thought is glimmers. Oh, the glimmers. I've got a lot of glimmers lately. My son is also going into sixth grade middle school, starting middle school. He's over there. And so lately, you know, things are starting to pick up the energy at our house because we're getting ready for her back to school too.
00:39:37
amycryan
I've just noticed moments where, you know, either I've lost my shit. And like, we don't want to do that mode yeah that I've seen us go into repair in a way that is just a whole other level. Me being ambled in.
00:39:53
amycryan
this is my own work, like and with therapists that I'm over the years of being able to recognize when it's happening and being able to say I'm sorry and be imperfect and be in that space with my son and also him to be able to take ownership of the his part in it and that's just a beautiful like so good of like you think about growth like yeah oh my gosh like this is so different and it's not just me freaking out and then you getting mad right like yes no there's that communication of you all understand each other yeah great you can learn from it yeah it's almost like slowing down too it is you have to slow down to be able to recognize that and see that and pause and come back yeah
00:40:33
amycryan
all of that. Yeah. Yeah. Lots of good moments like that lately. So um'm yeah, I'm happy. Yes, that feels good to be going into a new school year and having that kind of connection. Yeah. Yeah. What about you, Catherine? I had a glimmer this morning. So like we said, today's our mom's birthday and she stayed the night at our house last night to be ready for today. And, um, and it was so sweet. So I got up and I made a cinnamon roll, like cinnamon muffins, whatever. And, um, Dolores is like,
00:41:03
amycryan
Is it time to wake up? No, no. And I was like, yeah, I think it's 8 30. I think she can get up now. So I just hear her in the other room. She went in there and all I heard was happy birthday. And I was like.
00:41:15
amycryan
Oh my gosh, that's so cute. She's just in there singing to her grandma to wake her up. Happy birthday. It was very cute. And so I just like paused and listened and peeked my head around the corner and I was like, I'm not going to interrupt this moment. It was very sweet. So that was my glimmer for today. That's a good thing. Yeah, it was nice. Yes. Um, yeah, I don't know why I've been sure having a difficult time coming up with glimmers. Um,
00:41:44
amycryan
But I'm trying to think of a glimmer. Well, one would be, I don't know. I'm just not one. No? You would think. I guess I need some more growth. Well, what worry about this morning? Taking your boy to the... Oh, yes. I guess it was, yeah. So moments of joy, right? um Not necessarily moments where I'd see myself grow, but um I guess, you know, watching my son um becoming more independent, right? So instead of like the drop off and maybe walking them into the building, it's more like, bye! Have a good one! Right? a new building yeah with new people. I don't know the teachers yet, right? And he's just wandering around with his friends. And so yeah, that, no, that felt good. Good and like, oh my baby. Yeah. like so it is a bittersweet but yeah Good moments. Yeah, there'll be more. Yes. Awesome. And is it time for a fun question? A question. Okay. Pick a good one. We have no idea. How do you take your coffee? Oh, I love my coffee. I first of all, I have to say I like to pour over. Like I don't like to drip coffee.
00:43:06
amycryan
Yes. Someone explained it to me, but I don't remember. What exactly is a pour over? So you have like a little, like a vessel and then there's like this funnel thing and you put your coffee filter in the funnel and you pour hot boiling water over the coffee, but you like measure out, I use a scale to measure out the amount of coffee, and then you use a scale to measure the amount of water that you're putting in.
00:43:27
amycryan
It's just like a deeper taste. It's just really nice. Is it similar, like a French press? French press is different. French press, you're filling up with boiling water, but then you're like squeezing the grounds down. There's none of that here. It's just you pour it very slowly over. It looks beautiful. And then it tastes amazing. And then I have my coffee. I don't do sugar. I just have a little bit of I used net pods, which is like a um coconut nut milk kind of creamer. oh And then two scoops of collagen. Like, I don't know that, figure years out but gives it a little bit of body. Okay, I need, yeah, I've been thinking about getting some collagen. Yeah, it's good for you. I i feel like I noticed a difference in terms of, yeah. I mean, I know collagen, but it's a powder, so it's good for your joints, your skin, your hair, your nails.
00:44:17
amycryan
Yes. I mean, and some of us who are, you know, yes. Yeah.
00:44:27
amycryan
you know what need ready more color germs yeah yes fills in lonely all the things Oh, coffee. I like coffee. Um, I take mine with, um, so I have one of those machines. Oh, they're so, yeah.
00:44:43
amycryan
a little pod thing and I put just a little slight, I cover the bottom of my cup and then just a little bit higher of, I use a creamer, a milk base. So I stir the bottom of your cup with creamer and then the coffee goes. And then you put more on top. No, I don't put more on top. And then I stir it so it's all right. and then I put the cardamom on top. Oh! The cardamom shot as well. Wait, were you going like this? Well, sprinkles. Oh, sprinkles. Okay. All right. I wasn't sure if it was a spray. Okay. Ooh. Like ground cardamom. I want to try that. That's good for an honor. Because I was all in cinnamon for a while. And then I went to Piper's Coffee off of King's Highway and they had a whole cardamom latte. Good. It was delicious.
00:45:31
amycryan
I thought about, like, I wanted to make my own cardamom creamer, didn't get to it. Sheer up, I haven't gotten to it. It's a whole thing, it's a whole thing. Just a sprinkle. Yeah. Yeah, coffee? I am not fancy. And to be honest, I'm sure you like coffee in my heart. Yeah, yeah. Don't show me. I just, well, it's been like, what, two, three years, three years now since I've really started drinking coffee. Oh really? I don't need coffee. yeah And one of those crazy people that gets up in the morning, once I'm out of bed, I'm like, did you see what's up singing? I do. That's good. It is good. I don't understand it. And the people around me don't always appreciate it. I'm a morning person too. i can attest yeah
00:46:15
amycryan
But so I swear not as well received right exactly started started enjoying a nice warm cup of coffee in the morning and just and so I don't even need a whole cup but what I do is I i do like to pour hot water in my cup any of my cup and then I pour a half a cup of coffee in there and then I've just been using like a splash of oat milk. i And that's it. Because I don't want it to be sweet because typically and maybe I'm eating like a muffin or something. So that's why it's sweet and then this is the balance. that makes sense
00:46:49
amycryan
yeah so that's why Look at this, all these different types of coffee. The is so different. well And I think, oh yeah, so do you have anything to promote, anything coming up, anything going on for you, and do you have something else to talk about? So I think if you're interested in kind of what I'm sharing,
00:47:09
amycryan
I think the best way to stay in touch with me is I have a micro newsletter, so I know nobody has any time. So my newsletter, it's called The Nature Brief and it goes out every week, mostly, on Thursdays and it's a five minute or less read and I share a different nature connection invitation there.
The Nature Brief Newsletter
00:47:26
amycryan
So if you're interested in that, you can find it at the naturebrief dot.com or on my website, which is just urbanforesttherapy.com. As soon as you go there, there'll be a little pop up that'll come up and to sign up for that. I do like that it's short.
00:47:39
amycryan
Because for me, I like and like this is just enough. i Yeah, I can yeah I know that I can open this and read it because sometimes I'm like do I open my time for that? Yeah, and this one I'm like, yeah I can open this. Well, and also it serves me because like I was doing this whole long run thing and I was like, oh my gosh, is anybody actually reading this? Like I don't know. I don't even want to write it. Yeah, so this is just a way if you're interested in getting a different nature connection something to try to do that and And then I host events. I have a whole bunch of events coming up. I have some online remote events that I'll be giving up, which is a new thing I'm doing this year, but it's not new like to being done. It's just and something new I'm offering and I offer local events. So if you go to my website, urbanforesttherapy.com slash events, you'll see everything there. Awesome. Good. And then we're also promoting
00:48:26
amycryan
Oh, yes. Another podcast. Yes. My 11-year-old son, Sage, has his own podcast here, and he's going to do a shout out to you guys. Thank you. His podcast is called VVS Gaming 101. That's the letter VVS Gaming 101, and it's on Spotify. Exclusively. Exclusively. He talks all about different games.
00:48:50
amycryan
that he plays video games and the updates that are available and it's it's for kids so if your kids are into gaming or if you're a gamer yeah check it out yeah yeah and we have um well just to throw this out there the radiant resilience that there are mamas is happening in october yeah so what is that So it's it's for a therapist moms to come and get CEUs and to connect community and just have, so we are actually speaking there. We have like a little hour that we're going to be prevent presenting something and just kind of, it's probably going to be just very community fun yes stuff. When is it?
00:49:32
amycryan
October 2nd? I think it's a Friday and Saturday. Maybe. Yeah, 3rd or 4th maybe or something. 3rd or 4th, yeah maybe. Yeah. But yeah, so it's in the beginning of October and it looks really fun. Yes. How many C.E.U.s do you get? I need to earn 14. Maybe. It's a decent amount to check it out. Yeah, definitely check it out. Because it's going to be awesome. There's a lot of wonderful speakers and it's put on by a Mackenzie. Lester Brackie. That's awesome. Yeah, check it out. How do you get into that? Any sign up for it?
00:50:02
amycryan
um You can go to her website, or um and we will be posting on our Instagram, and you can probably find it on your site. She has a lot of things. She has a lot. Nice. So yay! We are so happy! We're coming this year! Alright, we're good! See you later! Bye! Alright. 50 minutes! Cut! Oh, good! We nailed it!