Nadine Mazzola - Forest Bathing with your Dog

Lovely in many ways: The book, Thesubject, The practice, The author.

Willem Lange, host of PBSaward-winning Windows to the Wild television show

After reading this book, Iunderstand the genius behind Nadines innovative combination offorest bathing and dog walking, a combined practice that elevatesthe meaning and joy of each! As a person with a lifelongappreciation for the power of immersing oneself in nature and onewho has been lucky enough to experience guided walks led by Nadine,Im so glad youve picked up this book! In exploring the worldthrough the eyes of the wise and playful duo of Nadine and Juliet,your life is also apt to take a rejuvenating turn.

Melanie Choukas-Bradley, Author ofThe Joy of Forest BathingReconnect with Wild Places &Rejuvenate Your Life

Nadine, your journey has providedme with new eyes when out with our dog, Brooke. Brooke is truly aproject dogshe is intelligent and impulsiveboth of which can gether in a pickle in human society. Forest bathing for Brooke helpsher cope and keeps her sanity in check.

Sue Schiemer, Certified ForestTherapy Guide, Educator, and Student of Positive ReinforcementTraining

Im so grateful for what youveshared about forest bathing with a dog. Luna and I had a GREATtime! I felt very attuned to her, and I believe she felt the sametoward me. One of the best moments was when Luna was exploring anold stone wall. She spent considerable time sticking her nose intoall the spaces between the rocksand snorting and smelling in ahighly attentive way. It actually made me think of the way humandetectives seek clues regarding who has been in a place and whathas happened there. I loved participating as a silent sharer inLunas quest to explore the inner spaces of the stone wall. Thismade me so grateful for you!

Candace Anderson,Artist

Forest Bathing
with your Dog

By NadineMazzola
Certified Forest Therapy Guide

Foreword by
Melanie Choukas-Bradley

Copyright 2019 by Nadine Mazzola.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoymentonly. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.If you would like to share this book with another person, pleasepurchase an additional copy for each recipient. If youre readingthis book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for youruse only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer andpurchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work ofthis author.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication maybe reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or byany information storage and retrieval system withoutpermission
in writing from Nadine Mazzola.
Reviewers may quote brief passages.

Forest Bathing with your Dog
by Nadine Mazzola

Library of Congress Control Number:2019908770
Print ISBN: 978-1-7332110-3-1
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-7332110-1-7

Publisher: Blue Cloud Books, Acton MA 01720
Phone 1-978-549-2505
nenft.com/blue-cloud-books

Cover design by Nadine Mazzola
Book design by Nadine Mazzola
Photo credits: Nadine Mazzola, Jerry Mazzola, Jerry Borofsky
Book trailer videography: Annabel ONeill

Juliet
Can I just tell you,
how much I love walking in the woods with you.
The wanders, the pauses, the adventures, the sit spots,
you speak the language of the forest beings.
There is always something new that you show me.
My heart smiles and I feel like singing
as we wander and explore.
Can I just tell you,
thank you, little one.

To my husband, Jerry,
who has held my hand with loving grace
and offered inspiration and encouragement
through all our adventures both good and bad.

And to the FOREST
Thank you both for having my back.

by Melanie Choukas-Bradley

Nadine Mazzola guided one of my very first forestbathing walks, beginning in a lilac grove in full bloom. Sheinvited our forest bathing group to freely wander the fragrantgrove, sticking our noses into every colorful cluster of lilacs wecould find. We then wandered down an open hillside and into awooded stream valley where Nadine gave us time to soak up thebeauty of the water flowing under the trees. She invited us tocreate ephemeral works of art from sticks, stones, wildflowers, andother natural materials. While we made art destined to be washedaway by the rain, Nadine foraged for leaves and flowers for the teashe then served us under the trees.

Nadine made us feel as though we had all thetime in the world to enjoy the beauty and wonder surrounding us.And thats just what she does in the pages of this book. Told boththrough her own voice and the voice of her beloved dog, Juliet,this inspiring, poignant, and playful book invites you to pause (orpaws!) in your busy daily life to enjoy the natural beauty andintrigue that await just outside your door.

As we learn through the affectionate caninevoice of Juliet, Nadine Mazzola had a richly faceted life beforeshe became the first Certified Forest Therapy Guide in New Englandin 2015. Not only did she have a successful career in business andmarketing, she is a former world professional pocket billiardsplayer who competed on the Womens Professional Billiard Tour.

That walk Nadine led in the lilac grove andstream valley of the arboretum in the Berkshire Mountains was partof my own training to become a Certified Forest Therapy Guide. WhenI learned that Nadine was leading forest bathing walks withJuliet for other people and their dogs I was intrigued! Andafter reading this book, I understand the genius behind Nadinesinnovative combination of forest bathing and dog-walking, acombined practice that elevates the meaning and joy of each!

Dogs naturally do what we humans strive todo on the forest bathing walks that began in Japan in the 1980s andhave since become popular around the world. When we humans are inthe forest, we have to let go of daily distractions to become fullypresent in the moment. Dogs are already there. We have to remindourselves to stop and smell the roses, while a dog wouldnt dreamof passing up a tempting scent. Dogs are mindfully present for allthey encounter in the forest, and they have much to teach us.

Nadine learns the art of being fully,curiously, and appreciatively present from Juliet. It seems thatabout the only thing Nadine has to teach Juliet is the art ofrelaxed forest-sitting. As Juliet opines from her canineperspective: All dogs can learn new tricks, but sometimes it takestimeIt took me a while to get the hang of [relaxedforest-sitting]. At first, I was very restless. Why should we justsit when we could be investigating or chasing things? There aredays when [Nadine] is restless, too. But Ive noticed that as oneof us relaxes, the other follows suit, and we both sink in to ablissful, watchful state. Sometimes I wind my leash around a treeor other object so that if one of us shifts position were notdisturbing the other.

While you romp with Nadine and Julietthrough these pages, youll experience some serious currentsinterwoven with the playfulness. As Juliet lets you know up front,Nadine is a breast cancer survivor. The health benefits of forestbathing that have been documented in studies around the worldattracted her to the practice. As Juliet recalls, One day [Nadine]heard someone mention forest bathing and how being under the forestcanopy boosted the Natural Killer (NK) cells in human immunesystems. I didnt know it in that moment, but our lives would takeon a new turn after that day.