Vanessa Yvette shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Vanessa, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I am most proud of building- the inner sanctuary I’ve created within myself.
The trust in my own rhythm (that has taken time). The quiet resilience that doesn’t always need to prove itself. The ability to still believe in beauty and connection, even after disappointment, loss, or uncertainty. That’s the part no one really sees—the daily rebuilding of my spirit, the way I return to the Earth for guidance, and how I choose softness in a world that often rewards the opposite.
This inner space is the foundation of everything I offer through Forest Bath Miami. Without it, the external work wouldn’t hold the same depth, clarity, or authenticity. So while others may see the ceremonies, the forest walks, and the community gatherings—what they don’t see is the sacred, unseen labor it takes to stay aligned, open-hearted, and deeply rooted.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Vanessa Yvette- an Afro-Cubana Earth Ceremonialist and the founder of Forest Bath Miami, a nature-based wellness organization rooted in ancestral remembrance, collective care, and deep connection to the land.
Forest Bath Miami was born from my own healing journey- a personal call to return to nature during a time of deep transition. What started as a quiet practice beneath the trees evolved into a sacred offering for my community. Today, I guide immersive Forest Therapy walks, Earth altar ceremonies, and nature-based rituals that support rest, presence, and spiritual restoration- especially for Black and Brown communities who have historically been disconnected from the land in liberating ways.
What makes this work unique is that it’s not just about nature- it’s about remembering that we are nature. My offerings weave together eco-therapy, cultural reclamation, and spiritual practices to create intentional spaces where people can feel rooted, seen, and restored.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding Forest Bath Miami’s reach- deepening partnerships, hosting seasonal activations, and continuing to hold space for those seeking refuge in the medicine of the Earth. Everything I do is led by intuition, ancestral guidance, and a belief that healing happens when we slow down and return to what is sacred.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a curious, connected, and a sensitive child. I spent a lot of time in nature-talking to trees, listening to the wind, and feeling a strong connection to something bigger than myself. I believed in magic, in the unseen, and in my place within the natural world.
I wasn’t afraid to be soft or to lead with my heart. I trusted my instincts and followed what felt true, not what was expected. I didn’t need validation- I just was. Whole. Grounded. Free.
That version of me still exists. She’s the foundation of my work and the reason I return to nature again and again- to remember who I am, beyond the noise.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You are enough-
You don’t have to earn your worth by being everything for everyone.
Your softness is not a weakness. Your sensitivity is your strength.
You are not too much, and you are never not enough.
Keep trusting your heart, even when the world tries to harden it.
Everything you feel, everything you dream- it matters.
You are already exactly who you’re meant to be.
Just keep going- at your pace, in your way.
You are more than enough. Always have been. Always will be.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is reverence- for the Earth, for my ancestors, and for the sacred spaces we create in community. Reverence reminds me that this work isn’t transactional- it’s relational.
It’s about honoring the wisdom that came before me, the land that holds me, and the people I serve. It’s about moving with care, with intention, and with deep respect for the spiritual and cultural roots that guide my practice. In a world that often rushes and extracts, I protect slowness, ceremony, and the right to remember where we come from.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m surrounded by nature-barefoot on the earth, the sun on my skin, and the wind moving gently through the trees.
It’s in those quiet moments when I’m not performing, producing, or proving- just being. Breathing. Listening. Letting the land hold me. Whether I’m guiding others through Forest Bath Miami or simply sitting alone in stillness, that connection brings me home to myself.
That’s when I remember: I don’t have to do anything to be worthy of peace- I Just Have To BE.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestbath_miami/ Forestbath_miami
Image Credits
Personal Photo: Captured By Emmy Etiene- @sun.n.snaps @evmproduction
