Forest Bathing +
ABOUT ME
Hello and welcome!
Hello, I'm Naomi. Welcome to Leaf and Light.
I've been a nature lover for as long as I can remember.
When I think back to my childhood, my happiest memories are of being outdoors: climbing the tree at the end of our garden, wild swimming, walking on the beach with our family dog, birdwatching (I was completely obsessed!) and playing sport. Nature has always been the place where I feel most at ease and most like myself. It's where I've always found joy, wonder and a sense of belonging.
Then came my late teens and twenties. I moved to London and, like so many people, life became busier. There was less time for the things that brought me joy and more focus on navigating the demands of adulthood.
I'm a chronic list-maker, planner, thinker and worrier. I often found myself feeling stressed, overwhelmed and as though there was never enough time or space to simply stop.
When I became a mum in my mid-thirties, those feelings intensified. Suddenly there seemed to be a million things to do, countless people needing me and very little time to look after myself. Eventually, the constant busyness began to take its toll, both physically and mentally.
Without really realising it, I started turning back to nature. It became my refuge—a place of calm where I could restore my sense of self, even if only for a short while each day.
Then, almost by chance, I picked up a book about Forest Bathing. I was fascinated, so I booked onto a guided session.
That experience changed something in me.
For the first time in a long time, I felt I had permission to slow down. To simply be, rather than constantly do. The endless chatter in my mind quietened. I found myself completely present, immersed in the woodland through my senses. It was as though the wonder, curiosity and awe I'd felt as a child had gently reawakened.
I knew I wanted to help other people experience that feeling too.
So I trained as a Forest Bathing Guide with the Forest Bathing Institute, inspired by the idea that by helping people reconnect with nature, we also begin to reconnect with ourselves.
Alongside my work as a Forest Bathing Guide, I've spent many years creating spaces where people can learn, reflect and grow. I'm a former secondary school teacher, mentor, trained life coach and facilitator of education and community engagement programmes. In my full-time role, I work in education and engagement where I coach and develop managers and create opportunities for people to learn, connect and grow.
Looking back, I realise there has always been a common thread running through everything I've done: helping people pause, reflect and reconnect with themselves, others and the world around them.
After completing two years of training with the Forest Bathing Institute, I founded Leaf and Light to offer guided Forest Bathing experiences in my local area.
The name Leaf and Light was inspired by the beautiful Japanese word Komorebi, which describes the sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees. It's one of my favourite sights in nature. When golden light shines through the woodland canopy, I genuinely feel as though magic exists. For me, it captures the essence of Forest Bathing: slowing down enough to notice the extraordinary beauty that surrounds us every day.
I believe that when we reconnect with nature, we also remember that we're part of something much bigger than ourselves. We are not separate from nature—we belong to it.
Modern life can leave us feeling disconnected: from ourselves, from one another and from the natural world. Yet when we slow down and begin to notice again, something shifts. Nature has a gentle way of reminding us that we don't always need to strive, achieve or rush. Sometimes, simply being present is enough.
My hope is that through Forest Bathing, people not only experience deep relaxation but also leave with a renewed sense of wonder, connection and belonging. When we truly feel connected—to ourselves, to each other and to the living world around us—we naturally begin to care more deeply for it. And perhaps, in that connection, we realise we're not as alone as we sometimes feel.
Perhaps you're reading this and wondering whether Forest Bathing is for you.
I'd encourage you to give it a try.
Time and again, I've watched people arrive carrying the weight of busy lives, only to leave looking lighter, calmer and more connected than when they arrived. The shift in mood, energy and presence can be remarkable.
My ethos is simple: Forest Bathing is for everyone.
Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, curious, or simply longing for a little more peace, my role is to create a warm, welcoming space where you can truly relax, reconnect with nature and rediscover a little of yourself along the way.
I'd love to welcome you to the woods.
