Forest Therapy with Sally Staples

Experience Mindful Movement, Practice Presence and Appreciate Your Senses

Do you struggle with staying present? Are you ruled by runaway thoughts? Does your anxiety keep you up at night? Is COVID burnour keeping you on an emotional roller coaster?

Discover the joy of meeting a gentle heard of horses and donkeys and set the stage for your transformational journey of healing, personal growth and renewal. Gain practical skills to enhance your own resilience as you learn how our nervous system responds to the world around us.

Learn more about the healing potential of ‘forest therapy’ as you participate in a series of guided immersive experiences within our mixed forest of century-old pine, black walnut and maples trees boasting fall colours.

You will engage in guided invitations specifically designed to bring us into the present moment — the place where we can access the endless resource of innate strength and wisdom we all have but often get disconnected from in the business of modern life. The practice is relaxing and restorative, and as we open the doors of communication with nature and around us, our creativity awakens, intuition sharpens and insights arise.

It’s been scientifically proven that nature can enhance our mood and reduce stress. We feel better, renewed and more resilient when we step into the embrace of Mother Nature. Come explore the breathtaking beauty of this century farm with pasture fields, a woodland trail, a walled garden, stone labyrinth and the sensory gifts that nature presents each moment.

The benefits of meditation and mindful practice include:

• Reduced stress and greater self-regulation
• Enhanced sleep
• Enhanced compassion for self and others
• Healthier relationships and healthy boundaries
• Enhanced sense of personal mastery

Who Should Attend: Adults 18 years plus. All are welcome. No previous experience with mindfulness, meditation or horses is required. All experiences with horses are on the ground.

Tuition: $200 plus HST (payable by credit card or e-transfer to jgarland@themaneintent.ca)

To Register: Contact Jennifer Garland at jgarland@themaneintent.ca or call 705-295-6618

How to Prepare:

• Bring a lunch or snack, water bottle, face mask (optional)
• Dress for weather and wear boots/running shoes
• All participants will be required to sign waiver forms prior to participating in the workshop

Your Host and Lead Facilitator:

Jennifer Garland, BA, MA is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and Owner of The Mane Intent who appreciates the power of horses and nature to support our overall health and wellness. In 2014, Jennifer founded The Mane Intent, located east of Peterborough, offering virtual and in-person psychotherapy, equine-assisted psychotherapy, health and wellness workshops, individual and team effectiveness coaching and leadership development. Our equine-inspired programming is informed by the FEEL™ approach, EQUSOMA™ – Somatic Experiencing® Skills for Equine-Facilitated Practitioners and Fundamentals of Natural Lifemanship training in Traum-Focused Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing® Professional Training (Intermediate), and the work of Paula Josa-Jones, SEP Practitioner and Author, Our Horses, Our Selves.

Guest Facilitator:

Sally Staples grew up in rural Ontario, finding great solace in connecting with nature — this happened organically and was deeply healing. Since then, Sally has spent most of her professional life in the health and wellness industry. In 2012, her growing interest in the benefits of mindfulness practices led Sally to study with Deepak Chopra, becoming a certified Chopra Vedic Educator for Ayurveda, Yoga and Meditation programs.  While teaching she began to witness the power of practicing outdoors in a natural setting. Amazing shifts began to take place among her students — deeper insights, more meaningful experiences and longer-lasting results. This led Sally to the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy where she became a Certified Guide. Thus, coming full circle back to her roots finding peace and happiness in nature. Sally now shares her experience through guided day retreats at The Graftonian, building a Nature Connection Community on a foundation of gratitude, compassion, empathy, vulnerability and trust.