Testimonials
"Dorota finds amazing venues for her nature connection walks - full of colour and life. I attended two of her forest bathing sessions in May 2022. I had hoped to connect with nature and I was not disappointed! I have experienced Mindfulness before over the years but this was so much deeper. Good for my creativity and my soul. Dorota helped us to slow down and take in what was around us which had a fantastic relaxing effect. This in turn helped me for weeks after to function better with less stress.
I liked connecting with my breathing. It was so multi-sensory. We focused on one sense at a time - audio, smell, sense of movement within nature and ourselves. I loved the exercise of forest bathing, and learning about a tree of our choice through Dorota's guidance. I also loved leading my partner blind as if she was a camera and then swapping roles. It's almost childlike the range of senses we start to use and experience when we are blind. It's like we were experiencing things for the first time. That in turn is so refreshing. When we have to guide a blind person we also have to be very gentle, empathetic and see things from another person's point of view. This is good for the soul - Thank you "Nature Minds".
Dorota has such a lovely way of helping you and guiding you to connect with nature and become aware of all the things which are going on through our senses and our mental responses to these stimuli. She shows such depth and understanding of nature and the human experience in nature. Dorota has a very interesting and calm manner about her. I felt very safe, playful, exploratory, calm, inspired and relaxed. She has so many ideas as to how we can interact with nature. Some of the highlights were paddling in the river, rocking in a hammock, experiencing amazing sights of Rapeseed fields and swathes of bluebells. I recommended the experience to my boyfriend and he came to the next session. He was amazed by it too. I would definitely attend another session with Dorota."
Helen Scaife
Artist, painting & drawing teacher
"I went to the nature-based mindfulness session because I had been feeling a wee bit
stressed and I knew Dorota as a kind and caring person so I felt happy that she could show me how to calm down. Dorota helped me to stay focussed on what was happening now and not worry about things that happened before and things that will happen in the future.
One of my favourite moments during the nature coaching session was holding an object we picked ourselves from many interesting natural things spread out on the floor. I picked a bone. I held it, felt the texture and wondered which animal it came from. I absorbed the feeling of holding it.
Another favourite nature-based mindful activity for me was eating. I picked a dried cranberry. We were encouraged to look at it, smell it, feel the texture in our hand. Then we popped it into our mouths and chewed very slowly. I loved that part. The session made me feel relaxed. I’ve learned to take a moment to absorb the feeling of objects around me.
I’d recommend Dorota from Nature Minds as your nature connection guide and mindfulness guide if you’re really stressed at school or at work. You’ll enjoy a quiet yet active and relaxing time."
Violette Salvan - age 11
"I have been fortunate enough to join Dorota for her mindfulness sessions through Nature Minds. I am lucky enough to have a beautiful garden and listening to guided meditation by Dorota surrounded by beautiful nature in my back yard was a gorgeous experience.
The meditations are both soothing and gently leading one to explore issues such as gratitude, compassion and healing. I always come away from a mindfulness session with Dorota feeling rested and relaxed. I would recommend this experience to anyone wishing to learn how to quieten their mind. Dorota explores practices gently and with plenty of opportunities to share and question throughout the session."
Gillian Lowitt - teacher and wild swimming fanatic
"It’s been a joy to reconnect with mindfulness practice with Dorota from Nature Minds. I’d previously done some mindfulness training through an app, but none recently. Dorota reintroduced us to the simple practice of connecting with the breath, body scanning, and loving kindness meditation, all with an attitude of curiosity and without judgement. Sessions were short, maximum half an hour, a wonderful sanctuary from the busyness of life.
Having Dorota’s gentle guidance and support helped us to get the most out of the sessions. The safe environment she created allowed us to explore the experience and ask questions in comfort. I am using the practice on a daily basis when I’m out walking, remembering to focus on the breath and the sensations of the present moment, which helps me to appreciate my blessings and prevent the mind running away with the worries of the day!
I would highly recommend Dorota as the most warm, gentle, approachable and kind mindfulness teacher, to introduce you to this simple but powerful life-skill."
Kerstin Kramer - GP, outdoor endurance, wild swimming and snowboarding enthusiast
"I am lucky enough to have done two mindfulness walking sessions with Dorota to date, including some forest bathing. I have done mindfulness meditations before but mostly inside, or those outside alone. I got so much more out of a guided walking session than I have ever by myself, mainly due to Dorota being such a good guide, but also getting a lot from the rest of group sharing their experiences. Dorota's invitations/open questions throughout the sessions made me think of everything in such a different way! It was like seeing the world through different eyes and I felt like I had some important revalations about myself just by observing nature.
Dorota has so much to offer in terms of knowledge, but what I have appreciated most is her making me see the same things in a different way. The sessions are so peaceful and joyful, and I was so surprised at how much I could gain from just going for a short walk...and thinking about how much I normally miss! Dorota looked after us and was very considerate to our needs. Weeks later I am still making changes in my life from observations I made on my first mindful walk.
Finally, the forest bathing taster session was so peaceful and relaxing I am really looking forward to do another session. It was really powerful just to be in amongst the trees and submit to nature. Nature Minds is a great name for a wonderful venture. Thank you Dorota for opening my mind and being such an inspiring nature coach!"
Kate - civil servant, outdoor swimmer and dipper,
hash runner & cat lover
"I have known Dorota for a few years and I always admire her enthusiasm about life, mindfulness and nature. She introduced me to nature-based mindfulness during our walks and made me realized that it is important to stop, breathe, look around and embrace the environment and the moment that I was in.
She has couched me through times I couldn't focus and reminded me to breathe and be kind to myself. With Dorota as your nature-connection guide you will embrace the journey and forget about the destination."
Rosa Granero - ASN teacher, animal and nature lover
"Having been a walker all my life and being very familiar with forests, both natural and planted, I didn’t think this event would give me anything other than a lovely afternoon outdoors. Well, it did! I honestly felt the slowing down of my mind and body and a switching of my focus to detail. I hadn’t expected this. There is a certain amount of ‘suspension of disbelief’ but if you are prepared to ‘let go’ and just go with the gentle, calm instruction that Dorota gives, then I believe you can gain something, and be able to carry that with you into future walks or possibly even your future life! I really did feel ‘bathed’ by the light and by the experience that Dorota created for us. It helped, of course, that it was a glorious day. The colours were beautiful, and we heard something I had never heard before - the cracking of seed pods on the broom. I would probably have been too busy talking to hear this in normal circumstances! I am used to walking through forests as part of longer walks, which of course have to have an objective - usually ‘the top’ but in any case, to get home in time for tea. But this experience got me to slow down, enjoy the moment and focus on the detail, not just the generality of the woods. I really did lose myself and gained a new appreciation of the beauty and benefits of my local trees. I think Dorota is really onto something here and has created a unique experience, which will benefit a wide range of people, including me!"
Karen Jane Smith - hillwalker,
award-winning Home-Start volunteer and fundraiser