Mindfulness Hikes with Author Brian Germain

Mindfulness Nature Walks with a Specialist in Contemplative Psychology and Forest Therapy

Brian Germain leads individuals, families and groups of all kinds in nature-immersion experiences. We explore and observe tiny things and big things, and tune in to the living ecosystem. We listen and we smell and we touch nature, so it can touch us.

We ALL need this. Put away your phone and tune into the sounds, smells and magnificent visual experience of the natural world. This is not about memorizing plant names, but of connection to the ecosystem, and to oneself. It is a time to reflect and connect with what really matters. The world needs a parachute for the heart that slows us down to the speed of nature.

Out of Town Participants Welcome! There is a lovely Bed and Breakfast nearby! https://www.greengablesbandb.com/

Family and Friends Groups (1-12 participants)

Typical Hike Duration:approx. 3 Hours

Mindfulness Hike with Author Brian Germain:

-B.A. Psychology: University of Vermont

-Masters Program: Contemplative Psychotherapy: Naropa University

-STEM Educator: *Trusted by MCPS Schools (well over 5000 students taught in the Washington DC region!)

-Certified in Forest Therapy: Royal Certified Masterclass

-International Adventure Leader (check out my YouTube Channel!)

-Regenerative Gardening Researcher :(check out my YouTube Channel!)

Who is Brian Germain?

Primary Location: Rachel Carson Conservation Park, Brookeville Maryland.

Questions? Send us an email:

Brian.transcendingfear@gmail.com

Call (301) 646-0761

"Brian is a lovely person and a dedicated nature rambler, a trail blazer and trail builder. His joy in the outdoors is effusive and he shares both his wisdom and his enthusiasm generously. Brian's many years of contemplative practices seems to have infused him with tranquility and warm acceptance. He is a delight." -Darcy Lane

"Brian is extremely knowledgeable and I love learning what he imparts"

-Dash Rednar

"Brian Germain is a very experienced skydiver, coach, teacher, author, and tour guide for Outdoor Adventure seekers!"

- Fran Ivy Ames

"Brian has such a huge depth of knowledge and we are lucky he is so willing to share it with us. He is a very gentle genuine person with a warm smile and an innate ability to connect with people. All qualities of a great teacher/sensei."

-Greger Weeks

"Brian is the man. He helped me after I broke both my legs. Thank you!!!" -Rob Eskew

AWAKEN YOUR CONNECTION TO NATURE!

Who is Brian Germain?

Brian Germain is an acclaimed author of many books on adventure safety and the psychology of courage. As a skydiver with many thousands of jumps and an ESPN X-Games title as Freefly Champion, Brian has a great deal of wisdom collected over his 40 years of safe skydiving, including extensive backcountry (Inn Hoppe) parachuting throughout Scandinavia near the Arctic Circle.

Meet Brian Germain:

Brian has spent more than a decade teaching kids about skydiving at the National Air and Space Museum, College Park Aviation Museum, and at countless events at a great many schools. Kids love him, and they benefit from his messages about reaching toward courage in our lives. Recently he spoke to a crowd of over 700 civilian and military leaders in Poland, in a one hour seminar on the Holistic Approach to Skydiving Safety, and this message is infused in all that he teaches. His well-rounded approach to negotiating danger has created a solid basis for his latest area of focus, nature hikes with families.

Brian has been a teacher of students ranging from Elementary School to the US Special Forces, and is currently working in cooperation with MCPS school systems and other groups in the DC and Baltimore area for more than three years, teaching Science Technology Engineering and Math Seminars (STEM) at iFly Indoor Skydiving Wind Tunnels in many locations.

As a parachute designer and test pilot, Brian has a unique perspective on the study of fear and the means and the reasons to pursue our heroic thinking and skillful action. The survivor of many dangerous descents from the sky, he has found a path of resilience despite adversity.

As a long-time naturalist and international mountaineer, Brian brings a powerful sense of meaning to walking in nature. He has led countless people, young and grown, through challenging natural environments. Brian's profound trail discussions bring deeper meaning to the expeditions. Communication and cooperation are among his core messages, the natural result of a caring, loving, supportive environment. This makes these nature expeditions especially vale to nurture family bonds.

When we walk in the forest in harmony with nature, we can feel that we are doing what we were meant to do on this Earth. We are meant to be in the outdoors together, exploring the magnificent diversity of life, and the holistic system of ecology that keeps us alive. This is the missing component to the modern human experience. Our wondrous technology makes life easier, saves lives and solves real problems, we must always remember our connection to the natural world, so that we may be happy in our souls, and seek a path that is in harmony with the living planet.

Come experience nature in a new way, for a new reason. Bring your tick spray (permethrin), a full water bottle, appropriate attire and for evening/night hikes, two light sources. Yes, we can hike these trails at night!

Alternate Maryland Hiking Sites include:

Meadowside Forest, Rockville 5100 Meadowside Ln, Rockville, MD 20855

Burnt Mills East Special Park, Silver Spring 10701 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20901

Sugarloaf Mountain, Poolesville MD 7901 Comus Rd, Dickerson, MD 20842

*custom hikes at a location of you choice are also available!

What is Nature Deficit Disorder?

A host of psychological and physiological problems have been linked to deprivation of nature immersion. Stress stands as the root of most of these disorders, diseases and family friction. We all know accumulated stress is one of the biggest problems in our society, and now the world has gotten even smaller with the pandemic lifestyle. Tension builds from constant demands on our attention, and expands unchecked when we do not have adequate ways to let go and return to who we really are. The internet, the TV shows, the news programs and social media have cornered the human spirit in a way that has never before occurred. So many among us feel lost and helpless in our hopes to escape the emotional pressure cooker of modern family life.

It is time to do something about it.

The Japanese government has funded a highly successful program of what they call "Forest Bathing", which has shown to have a great many benefits to health and psychological wellbeing. You can read a National Geographic Article on the topic https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/...

It is time to unplug from the virtual reality of screen-time and plug back into actually reality…nature!

It is time to re-connect with the natural world in a brand new way. Trained in Contemplative Psychotherapy, Expedition Leader Brian Germain offers a unique program for families looking for something completely different. These hikes can change your perspective on your life to lead you to a feeling of the full relief of your burden long enough to truly let it in. This is something we all need and deserve.

What is a Nature Appreciation Hike?

Brian will guide your family on a contemplative journey into the natural world, providing mental focusing exercises to reunite you and your family with our real home, the natural world.

Using all of our senses, we can awaken a part of ourselves that may have been dormant for a very long time. Technology may offer us many amazing conveniences, but it will never replace our need to immerse our senses in the sights, sounds, smells and emotions brought forth by our living planet.

Hikes are 2.5 hours in length, and are appropriate for most families. Challenge is scaled with the capabilities of the group, however the focus is less on physical challenges and nature awareness games and more toward mental exercises based on the teachings of famed adventure leader Joseph Cornell. "Sharing Nature with Children", Cornell's creative and inspiring book offers a powerful antidote to the technologically accelerated life experience of the modern human. Come out in the forest, and tune into the larger Self, the planet of which you are a part.

The leader of these expeditions is Brian Germain, the author of acclaimed book Transcending Fear: the doorway to freedom. A legend in the skydiving industry, Brian specializes on managing fear and encouraging skillful courage. Brian is the leader of many online and in person discussions in his 35 year teaching career, and his many years as a life coach and psychology researcher and writer have given his leadership manner disarming and inspiring. Brian did his masters work in Contemplative Psychotherapy at Naropa University in Boulder Colorado, and his focus holistic approach to stress management has proven highly effective for thousands of people all over the world. In his immensely popular book The Parachute and its Pilot, Brian likens and aerodynamic drag in flight is no different from the fear that pulls on a human in the life experience. Our creative pursuits are either expanded in the intrinsic love of the experience, or limited by by avoidance of risks that could have brought great rewards. Stepping off the pavement is scary for many of us, and this is nothing to be ashamed about. It is a product of our daily life. The problem is, there is not enough life sustaining inspiration

within the constructions of humanity alone, we must return to the garden from whence we came, because the garden is literally who we are.