Forest Mind- method combines nature based wellbeing and mind skills

Forest Mind Instructor and Guide Cources 

Courses are held in English across Europe and also elsewhere by appointment. International Lead of Forest Mind is working with regional professionals to tailor courses suitable for each environment. Forest Mind instructor training ensures the quality of the guidance of the method to the various groups.

Read more:  https://www.metsamieli.fi/https/-/www-metsamieli-fi/Forestmind-fi/Instructorcources/

1. The wellbeing and health effects of nature make the forest the best place to exercise your mental skills.
2. Everyone is an expert of their own wellbeing. Recognizing one’s senses, observations, reactions, thoughts, and emotions increases self-awareness and develops the skills for maintaining wellbeing.
3. Everyone has their own relationship with nature and the forest. The Forest Mind exercises are suitable for any natural environment, including the yard or garden. The picture exercises are also suitable for constructed environments and indoors.
4. The wellbeing effects of nature can be experienced both consciously and unconsciously.
5. The Forest Mind exercises should be done regularly, since knowing oneself and practicing mental skills are lifelong processes.
6. The purpose of Forest Mind is to increase self-awareness, strengthen wellbeing, and help you live a rewarding life, even in the face of difficulties and hardships.
   

Examples of Forest Mind exercises:

1. What type of landscape comes to mind when you think of a relaxing, safe, and pleasant place?
2. Picture the landscape in your mind and imagine the views, colors, smells, and sounds.
3. What do you feel in your body? What kind of thoughts come to mind?
4. How can you use your mental landscape as a power reserve? In what situations could you take advantage of the tranquility and peace that this place provides?
5. Seek out your mental place or a similar landscape as often as possible.

1. Stop in the forest and observe your surroundings.    
2. Focus on your eyesight, hearing, and smells when observing nature.
3. Fix your whole attention on one thing that interests you. What do you see, hear, smell, and feel?
4. Focus on observing and concentration on one sense at a time. If you are looking at a tree, let your eyes take in the tree from top to bottom, and zoom in from the outline to the details, including the surrounding landscape.
5. Practice focusing your attention on the pure sensations.
6. If you feel your mind attempting to describe, explain, or evaluate the sensations, kindly return your mind back to examining the sensations without commentary.
7. Continue your journey and consider the sensations you’ve just experienced. How did it feel to concentrate? What made it easy or difficult? How did it feel to be in the moment?

The minute move (1 min.)

1. Sit in a place where you have a pleasant view of nature. Memorize the view and the positive state of mind it invokes so that you can return to the same state of mind later in the home or    workplace with the minute move.
2. Move your hands and feet. There is no right way, just listen to what your body needs and what feels good.
3. Choose one move that you can do while you are observing the view of nature.
4. Exhale completely and breath deep to refresh yourself, then continue the journey.