Wellness Walks
Join me for Friday Wellness Walks in the woods this fall!
I cannot wait to start this 5-week program to work on your end of the year health goals. I am excited to offer you support and accountability while we move our bodies and bask in the therapeutic benefits of nature.
What’s the plan?
We will meet on Friday mornings at 10:00 am at a location on Wagner Road on the west side of Ann Arbor and walk about 2 miles through the beautiful forest. It is not a difficult hike however it is not accessible for all (there are two spots where we have a short incline). The intention of these walks is relaxing the nervous system with gentle movement and being present in the woods and our bodies. I will work hard to check in with each of you along the way to hear what you want to work on in the next 5 weeks so that we can add accountability to your goals. I will also provide a theme of the week suggestion that you may want to focus on as well. We will walk at a leisurely pace. For those looking for this to be more of a workout, I will encourage you to add in squats and lunges along the way or bring small weights to carry instead of increasing your speed.
We will stop at one of my favorite spots, as a group, and take just a few minutes in silence just to listen and observe and get really present in our surroundings and our bodies- a true mindful forest bath. Then we will head on.
I would expect the walk to be about 45 minutes to an hour in total.
Details:
The cost to join us will be $10 per walk or if you pay in advance – $40 for the 5 weeks. We will meet every Friday in October from 10:00-11:00 am, starting October 1st. You do not have to register for all 5 weeks however, paying for all of them in advance assures your spot each week and offers a discount if you plan to attend all 5 walks. Payments can be made by: cash, check, or Venmo only. You MUST REGISTER to join us- by simply sending an email to lisa@lnwell.com to save your spot and then I will send details of meeting spot and payment to confirm. If you are paying in advance for all 5, you just have to register for the first session, make your payment and are automatically registered for the remaining meetings. If paying per session, you will have to register each time (if space allows). Due to limited space, I would appreciate advance notice if you will not make it, so I can offer the space to someone else.
IMPORTANT NOTE: I ask that you do NOT bring children or pets to the group.
Weather Policy:
In the event of heavy rain or thunderstorm and/or thunderstorm warning on the radar, I will cancel the walk for that day. In the case of drizzle or muddy conditions we will still meet, the forest is lovely in the mist! Boots would be a really good idea or shoes you don’t mind getting muddy as well as dressing in layers. If we need to cancel a session for any reason, I will add the first Friday in November at 10:00am for those that have registered. All weather updates will be sent by 9:00 am the morning of the walk so please check your email if you are unsure.
COVID Policy:
I will NOT be requiring masks for this outdoor activity, however, if you are wearing one, I will take that as a cue to wear one when we are connecting. I hope to create a respectful atmosphere so everyone feels safe and comfortable.
I will only be accepting a small group of registrations, so there should be plenty of space to spread out and distance as we walk.
Why walk with us?
Research shows outdoor activities have a positive effect on body, mind and spirit, a truly holistic treat! Walking outdoors increases physical fitness, raises levels of vitamin D and offers soothing comfort and relief from stress. Being in nature has been shown to lower blood pressure, lift people’s spirits and improve memory and learning as well as short-term memory.
Amazing research out of Japan, found that a 40 minute walk in a forest lowers our level of cortisol, a stress hormone, and supports the immune system more that a walk indoors. When we inhale the Phytonocides that are emitted from the trees and plants of the forest, it can change the blood composition in our bodies, boosting our immune system and lowering blood pressure. We are adding in the accountability to move and work on your other health goals to bring even more benefits to this hour of your week.
Hope you will join these Friday adventures!
Feel free to email me lisa@lnwell.com with any questions or concerns and to register! There has been quite a bit of interest and limited space- Spaces will fill fast!
