Loading...
Home2021-04-24T20:46:28+00:00

Everyone can benefit from a mindful hike.

Mindful Hikes Comox Valley offers year-round guided short trail walks within the Comox Valley region. Hikes are one-on-one mindfulness training sessions intended to help improve mental health, become aware of the present moment and learn to appreciate nature. Mindful Hikes Comox Valley specializes in youth with mental health challenges and special needs. Guides are trained in wilderness first aid, crisis intervention and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.

Our goal is to provide a non-judgmental and safe opportunity for young people to spend quality time outdoors while learning valuable de-stressing and emotional coping skills.

Why Practice Mindful Hiking?

Mindfulness

Mindfulness, put simply, is the secular practice of bringing one’s attention back to the present moment. Oftentimes we go through our entire day distracted by our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. We fail to achieve an understanding of our experience and the world around us. Mindfulness training helps to separate oneself from stress, negative thoughts, and other bodily sensations that may be overwhelming. These experiences are observed and accepted without judgment.

“The present is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” Thich Nhat Hanh

Mental Health

Today’s youth are experiencing an anxiety epidemic. A recent Pew survey found that 70% of teens say that anxiety and depression is a ‘major problem’ among their peers. Young people with FASD, PTSD, Autism, ODD, and ADHD commonly report suffering from anxiety on a regular basis.

Young people are also finding themselves so disconnected with nature that the term “nature deficit disorder” has been coined to describe the problem. This disconnection with the natural world has led to increased psychological growth and development problems.  Kids desperately need to get outside again.

Science

In recent years, interest in mindfulness has soared and so has research into mindfulness meditation. Studies show that mindfulness meditation provides benefits against an array of physical and mental problems – in particular anxiety, depression and PTSD.

Regular mindful hikes provide both physical and mental benefits of mindfulness meditation and simple interaction with nature. Benefits of mindful hikes include stress reduction, reduced emotional reactivity, improved communication skills, new self-observation skills, empathy development, decreased anxiety, and a better quality of life.

Testimonials

It is hard to put into words how grateful we are for Jamie and all that he has done to support our son and our family. His consistent calm personality, ability to think outside the box and passion for the work that he does is nothing short of inspiring… Jamie works with our son weekly helping him to understand his emotions, his behaviors, and how nature can help to regulate his body and mind. Our son also feels very safe with Jamie and is able to open up and share difficult conversations that he often does not have with anyone else.  –Shannon & Marty Simpson

Jamie is kind and gentle, thoughtful and dedicated to helping. My son has learned to meditate and other calming techniques for his anxiety. I highly recommend these therapeutic hikes. –Sandi Colette

“The present is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

Albert Einstein

MINDFUL HIKING BLOG

Learn more about mindful hiking in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island.

Nature Heals

While I was working for awhile at an outdoor store in Victoria, British Columbia, I met many customers who were setting off on big expeditions and pilgrimages in the [...]