Walks to Wellbeing
Walks to Wellbeing is a series of walks that allows you to get to know different entry points into ecological connectivity in restorative walking and reflection.
The walks are based on principles of experiential immersion in Felt Thinking, as the therapeutic methodology developed and taught by Dr Anna Dako.
Each walk is deeply connected to and inspired by the place of walking and strives to bring all the living and wellbeing - enriching aspects of the natural environment to our awareness while we ponder over their deeper meaning as experienced in gentle movement. Each walk is also an opportunity to learning how to give our experience its voice and how to build a creative dialogue with the landscape’s distinctive qualities while building a more inclusive sense of self.
Felt Thinking is a body-based way of working with functional movement in somatic experience of the Self. It is a deep self-inquiry journey which brings the lived connections between Nature and the Self to the fore and which offers new insights to how we are in the world and how to remedy multiple imbalances.
The Walks to Wellbeing are offered in these formats:
Latest Testimonials:
"Being in nature has always been an important part of my life, but as a university student I often overlooked its importance as I was swept into a new life of stress, anxiety, and deadlines. The Dunami’s Walks to Wellbeing audio guide helped me quieten my mind and stop my constant overthinking by focusing on the present moment and how my body interacted with the environment.
Across both walks – both at Donmouth and Tollohill – we explored the idea of ‘playing’ with our environment, each in different ways. During our first walk at Donmouth Nature Reserve, we focused on engaging with the external world through our senses. By listening to the distant roar of the crashing waves, feeling the weight of the sea glass in my hands, and observing the interaction of the different animal prints in the sand, I was able to not only appreciate the intricacies of the natural world but also switch off my mind and connect with my surroundings on a deeper level than just simply passing through it.
At Tollohill Woods, this concept of play shifted inwards as we moved away from the external to the internal by listening to our bodies and visualising our connection with nature. By imagining – and feeling – the gentle movement of my liquid spine as I walked across different terrains, and visualising roots growing from my feet like the ancient trees around me, I experienced a profound sense of calm and peace unlike anything I had ever felt before. After both walks, I felt truly connected – not only through the quietening of my busy mind – but through a sense of belonging to something larger than myself. This is a practice I will continue to return to whenever the stresses of everyday life become a little too overwhelming, and I need a way to ground and calm my busy mind." Rhona
"During my walk I felt reconnected with nature. At first I was sceptical about walks for wellbeing, however, after going on a walk with Dumani it all changed. During the walk I was able to reconnect with myself and find an inner peace that I had been struggling to find during my time at university. Nature is a blessing and something we all should reconnect with as much as possible." Saman
"Walking with the audio guides changed how I experienced familiar places in Aberdeen. I began my walk at Donmouth beach feeling tired and distracted, moving quickly without much awareness. As I slowed down, my attention shifted to the sound of the waves, the texture of wet sand under my feet, and the rhythm of my breath. Following the guidance, I started to notice how my body moved with the landscape, especially the steady flow between my steps and breathing, which felt like a continuous wave. In Tollohill woods, the mist and stillness drew my focus inward. I became more aware of my spine, posture, and how each step connected me to the ground. My attention moved between what I could feel internally and what I noticed around me, such as the quiet movement of trees and subtle sounds in the environment . In Seaton Park, I felt more open and responsive, noticing how my body reacted to sounds, space, and movement." Eric
"By the end of the 2 walks, I felt calmer, more present, and more connected to both my body and the landscape. The guidance helped me experience familiar places in a slower, more aware way, and made me realise how mindful walking can support wellbeing through breath, movement, and attention to the natural world." Alina
"Walking through both Donmouth and Tollohill really changed how I experienced places I thought I already knew. Instead of just moving through them the audio guides helped me slow down and tune in, noticing more around me like the different textures and sounds and even my own breath. By the sea at Donmouth I felt calm and free bringing me back to childhood, and at Tollohill there was a quiet stillness that made everything feel more grounded allowing me to think and reflect . I came away feeling more present, more connected, and honestly just a lot more at ease. Such a simple but powerful way to experience familiar places differently." Ellie