Mindful Walks

Exploring inner nature, in nature

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#mindfulwalking When you go for a walk this Christmas see if you can slow down and make it a little more mindful. Notice whether the walk stirs up strong memories of other walks, maybe of childhood or people you have walked with before. See if you can gently be with these memories as you take each step at a time. Notice the sounds or movements of birds or animals, stop a moment and just pay attention without interpretation. Notice the weather, differences in temperature: disliking the cold, hankering after the warmth. Notice if your heart is filled by excitement or regrets, notice where your thoughts are then bring your focus back to where you are right now. Merry Christmas from Mindful Walks #forestbathing #shinrinyoku #mindfulwalks #walking #christmas #christmaseve #christmaswalk #walk #winter #noticing (at Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6c1CXnhxU-/?igshid=1t9v4a6973psf

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#NationalRobinDay Did you know that today is also National Robin Day? The cold winter months are especially tough for animals; as temperatures drop and food becomes scarce, wildlife such as garden birds need a little extra help. This is where we can all help. Whether it’s building a bird feeder or making a wildlife-friendly space in your garden, every small action goes a long way to helping Ruby Robin and her friends. https://www.nationalrobinday.co.uk/about #robin #birds #smallbirds #winter #solstice #21stdecember #birdsong #birdfeeder #robinredbreast #nature https://www.instagram.com/p/B6VgoxgBlh7/?igshid=aeyhply5z

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#light There's only an hour between these two images, but as the sun came up and the moments changed, so did the sky, the shadows, and the light. #tree #trees #shadows #sky #sunrise #moments #noticing https://www.instagram.com/p/B6VFHHGB0_g/?igshid=1xo0fygsd4b5c

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#skin Morning clouds layered like folds of skin, the skin of the sky so old, yet ageless and without match for its beauty. The eye still closed, drowsy and sleeping. Dreaming of the day to come. #poem #poetry #sunrise #clouds #ageless #beauty #eye #dreaming #instapoetry #instapoet #horizon (at Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6NWrJzBEXg/?igshid=3n2pk7foup0c

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#forestbathing "Mindful Walks, a group based in Cardiff is exploring the practice. In doing so it is looking to improve the mental wellbeing, relaxation, and appreciation for nature felt by people in South Wales." Tommy gave an interview to Joe O'Connor from Jomec a couple of months ago, and only just realised that it was published in alt.cardiff https://www.jomec.co.uk/altcardiff/active/benefits-of-forest-bathing-explored-by-mental-health-collective #shinrinyoku #naturalmindfulness #mindfulwalking #mindfulwalks #nature #walking #mindfulness #southwales #cardiff #altcardiff #studentjournalism #jomec (at Cardiff) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5-GPnABi7A/?igshid=1ncle3bpdfhsx

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#newbeginnings I'd like to announce some exciting news for the end of 2019 and looking forward to 2020... Finding the time to connect with nature and offer guided forest bathing or natural mindfulness walks is becoming more difficult and rather than constricting I have decided to go into partnership with two amazing, nature loving, mental health promoting, outdoor life coaching, forest bathing guides in order to allow Mindful Walks to grow naturally and meet the opportunities we have to reintroduce people to nature through mindfulness and walking. Hannah was a primary school teacher for 12 years with experience of Forest Schools, after which she became a support worker and is now training to be a counsellor with a special interest in outdoors therapy and also an outdoors life coach. Hannah is originally from Hampshire and has always enjoyed walking and connecting with nature as well as enjoying music, dance and foreign languages. Andrea is from the Welsh Valleys and is a counsellor with many years experience in youth work and health and social care, a practicing massage therapist and training in a compassion focused Thai Yoga massage. Andrea is also an outdoors life coach and lover of mindfulness, yoga, dance and walking in nature. I'm looking forward to seeing how this partnership can bear fruit and sow more seeds of mindfulness in nature than I could do alone. #forestbathing #shinrinyoku #mindfulwalking #mindfulwalks #walking #guidedwalks #nature #cardiff #southwales #mindfulness #teamwork #growth #change #partnership #counselling #outdoorstherapy #foresttherapy #mentalhealth #wellbeing #stressmanagement #resilience #sowingseeds #acorns #mightyoaks (at Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/B55EoqmB6UU/?igshid=1qfbpnevrc2ky

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#lastlight Last light of the dying day Final flashes of solar ray Darkened branches as sun sets Midst horizons and silhouettes One last glimpse to say goodbye As day brightens another sky And here gathers the sheets of night Covered landscape from our sight. #poem #poetry #sunset #sundown #sky #horizon #darkness #light #silhouettes #trees #west (at Dinas Powys) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5oPnGvBX7P/?igshid=obz5zm0eqbje

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#old "how beautifully leaves grow old. how full of light and color are their last days." - John Burrows All of us are growing each day a little older, as we move towards our last days let's be like the leaves and shine more brightly and more colourfully. #leaves #autumn #fall #fallleaves #autumncolors #ageing #colour #beauty #lettinggo #acceptance #johnburrows #decay #life (at Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Z_WAIhYq_/?igshid=1948zf62n46pg

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#highfive Five fingered red hand Spreads face first to autumn skies Holding on to life #poem #poetry #haiku #haikupoem #five #red #leaf #autumn #fall #life #hifive #high5 #trees #forestbathing #shinrinyoku (at Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5U6rQ6BcQs/?igshid=h3evzbqpod5m

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#branches At every turn a choice A yet unlistened voice Leading to another turn A space, a place to learn #forestbathing #shinrinyoku #naturalmindfulness #mindfulwalking #mindfulwalks #nature #walking #mindfulness #choice #poem #poetry (at Bangor University) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5NHmiVhoCD/?igshid=1aa615klzluiy

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#whatmakesaforest A forest is made by many more than one tree living alongside each other, cohabiting, coproducing, and not conflicting. I recently became aware of other people locally offering forest bathing, mindfulness in woodland or outdoor life coaching and despite that initial reaction of it being 'competition'. Yet on reflection it is fantastic to have like minded people locally, to raise the profile and recognition of this kind of natural mindfulness and work together like the trees themselves work together. If you're in the Cardiff or South Wales area and you're interested in collaboration with me or to be put in touch with these others please do contact me. #forestbathing #shinrinyoku #naturalmindfulness #mindfulwalking #mindfulwalks #mindfulness #developingmindfulnessinwales #mindfulnessconference #cardiff #wales #forest #foresttherapy https://www.instagram.com/p/B5I26SahHtM/?igshid=1mrw6oo002rmy

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#forestbathing There were seven fforest bathers in Fforest Fawr near Tongwynlais today, two of which had bathed in the forest with me before. A cold still morning, with a lightest touch of rain and a small dog. #forestbathing #shinrinyoku #naturalmindfulness #mindfulwalking #mindfulwalks #fforestfawr #fforestbathing #cardiff #wales #autumn #woods #walking #guidedwalks #mindfulness (at Fforest Fawr Sculpture Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4-N2IFBhEG/?igshid=foyp5c9fcgne

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Is anyone going to the Developing Mindfulness in Wales conference in Cardiff next week (Thursday 21st November)? I will be there and though in my NHS role I'm hoping to be able to promote natural mindfulness, mindful walking and forest bathing both as something within the NHS and more widely. It would be great to meet and connect with anyone else who is going. https://walesmindfulnessnetwork.org/ #mindfulness #mindfulnessinwales #developingmindfulnessinwales #conference #cardiff #markdrakeford #wales #cymru #mindfulwalking #mindfulwalks #forestbathing #shinrinyoku (at Temple of Peace, Cardiff) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4x5HqihC4h/?igshid=15eis66l8cy25

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#bedifferent Some trees just wanna be different, show off their autumn leaves as a skirt rather than a scarf. It's OK to be different, we're all individuals and no less beautiful for that. #autumn #fall #autumnleaves #fallleaves #november #colour #leaves #trees #individual #individuality #beyourself #asabovesobelow #scarf #skirt (at Cardiff) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4vKzJuBXro/?igshid=145zjwhpqljlb

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#goldenbrown Just some views of treetops from a short walk I took around the village yesterday. Beautiful colours in the autumn leaves and blue sky beyond. #autumn #fall #autumnsun #autumncolors🍁 #leaves #trees #nature #forestbathing #shinrinyoku #biophilia #treetops #colours #gold #bluesky (at Dinas Powys) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4CNIrAhxf-/?igshid=1s6kr1m1d7u9v

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#backatwork First say back at work for me after a long 6 months of shared parental leave, drive in wasn't too bad thanks to some morning sunshine. #mondaymotivation #monday #work #mondayvibes #morning #sunrise #drive #sharedparentalleave #commute https://www.instagram.com/p/B330pGgBV9g/?igshid=yxvtc2mvoegv

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#forestbathing There were six participants on my forest bathing walk at Cwm George and Casehill Woods in Dinas Powys this morning in the cold October sunshine. Really pleased to meet @savedinaspowyswoods @wildtotsdinaspowys and Dinas Powys Wild About Nature. Such beautiful light and movement in the woods today. #forestbathing #shinrinyoku #naturalmindfulness #mindfulwalking #mindfulwalks #nature #walking #mindfulness #sensory #cardiff #dinaspowys #valeofglamorgan #wearenature #mentalhealth #relaxation (at Dinas Powys) https://www.instagram.com/p/B31z8hPBZRo/?igshid=1nzdd5i3fqz3m