Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Yvette.
Hi Vanessa , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As An Only Child, Nature Became My First Support System. The Trees Stood Tall Around Me Like Guardians, Their Branches Reaching Toward Me With Gentle Familiarity. Leaves Seemed To Listen, The Wind Carried My Secrets, And The Roots Beneath Me Offered A Steady Knowing- A Sense That I Was Always Held, Always Connected.
Forest Bath Miami was born from prayer, purpose, and a deep personal calling. A few years ago, I found myself at a crossroads-seeking healing, grounding, and a deeper connection to something greater than myself. That path led me straight into the arms of Mother Nature. The more time I spent in the trees, the more I began to remember- ancestral wisdom, the language of the land, and the medicine of presence.
What began as personal practice evolved into sacred service. I started inviting others to slow down with me, to return to their breath, their bodies, and the earth beneath their feet. What began as a personal practice soon became a collective offering- a call to community was made.
Over the years, I’ve guided hundreds of people—especially within Black and Brown communities—through nature-immersive experiences that are rooted in mindfulness, ancestral reverence, and deep listening.
My work today blends Forest Therapy, eco-spiritual practices, and community care. I hold space for people to reconnect—with nature, with themselves, and with the stories that live in our roots. It’s been an unfolding, one led by intuition, spirit, and a deep belief that healing is our birthright—and that the Earth is always ready to hold us.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road- but it has been a sacred one.
Walking this path meant unlearning, releasing, and remembering all at once. As a Afro-Cuban woman-led offering rooted in nature and spiritual practice, there were moments I felt deeply misunderstood- by systems, institutions, and even people close to me. Nature work isn’t always seen as “work,” and holding space for healing can be emotionally demanding, especially while also caring for elders, a family, and myself.
There were seasons of burnout, moments of doubt, and times I questioned whether the vision was too big, too niche, or too soon. And yet- every time I returned to the trees, they reminded me: slow down, stay rooted, keep going. My ancestors, my community, and the Earth herself have always whispered, you are exactly where you need to be.
The challenges refined me. They made my boundaries stronger, my intuition sharper, and my commitment to this mission unshakable. It hasn’t been easy- but it’s always been aligned.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m the founder of Forest Bath Miami, where I guide individuals and communities through immersive nature-based healing experiences. My work weaves together forest therapy, mindfulness, ancestral remembrance, and spiritual ceremony—creating intentional spaces where people can slow down, reconnect, and feel deeply held by the natural world.
I specialize in facilitating forest baths, Earth altar activations, and nature-based rituals that honor both personal healing and collective care. My offerings are rooted in cultural reclamation, especially for Black and Brown communities who have historically been disconnected from land in healing ways. I’m known for my intuitive approach, my deep reverence for nature, and my ability to create sacred, safe containers where people can return to themselves through the Earth.
What I’m most proud of is the community that has formed around this work. Forest Bath Miami is more than a practice—it’s a movement of remembrance, reconnection, and resistance. I’ve witnessed elders cry at the roots of trees, children speak to the wind with joy, and entire families shift their nervous systems through breath and stillness. That transformation—that return—is everything to me.
What sets me apart is the way I blend Earth-based spirituality with accessible, heart-centered practices. I don’t just guide people into nature—I invite them to remember that they are nature. That they belong here. That healing isn’t outside of them—it’s already within and all around.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5 to 10 years, I see nature-based healing and eco-therapy becoming even more essential- and more integrated into our everyday lives. As the world continues to move at an accelerated pace, people are seeking deeper roots, more stillness, and healing that doesn’t come in a pill, but from presence, land, and connection.
I believe we’ll see Forest Therapy and Earth-based wellness become more widely recognized in the health and wellness industry- prescribed by doctors, embedded in schools, and woven into mental health care as a valid and necessary modality. People are realizing that healing doesn’t always happen in four walls. Sometimes, it happens under a canopy of trees or with your bare feet in the soil.
I also sense a return to ritual and ancestral practices. There’s a hunger to remember- not just for BIPOC communities, but for all people who feel disconnected from land and lineage. That remembrance will continue to guide the work, and I see more practitioners honoring Indigenous and earth-rooted traditions with integrity and reverence.
What sets this shift apart is that it’s not just a trend- it’s a reclamation. A re-rooting. And I’m excited to witness how our collective relationship with the Earth continues to evolve and deepen.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Forestbath_Miami
