All About Ya Doma

Ya Doma means 'I am home' in Russian. Coming home to nature and to one's self is the realization of what happens when immersing yourself in nature.

Ya Doma Nature and Forest Therapy was founded on the principle that when you come back to who you are, you can live in alignment with truth and integrity.

Ya Doma's goal is for each participant to walk away from a guided forest therapy walk with a little more intention and inspiration of walking your truth. To step out of the fear of ego and truly listen to what your heart is saying. To trust what you feel, hear, see, and connect with while in the forest is, perhaps, the whisper of your heart. It is when you follow this insight, you are stepping on your true path, learning a little more about who you truly are.

Ya Doma's passion is to assist those who want to find their inner truth in a healing and supportive environment. Ya Doma wants to walk the path along side you to assist you when you need guidance; to hear your stories of growth, of the dark, and the light. When practicing forest therapy, LIMITLESSNESS is possible.

Whether you are interested in trying this once or wanting to commit to a transformation, Ya Doma will meet you where you are at. The forest will show you the path and you will be the one to choose to walk it.

All About Kim

"The feeling of being 'at home' is an effervescent flood of knowingness that comes over my entire being whenever I am being still in nature. It is nurturing, supportive, trusting and embraced in love. I am able to access these sensations through Forest Therapy. When I realized how much I needed this support to help me through the hardest and most darkest time of my life, I knew I was forming a life long practice. With the amazing changes that were happening within me, I felt inspired to share. And so, my passion of reconnecting with self and developing a strong relationship with nature to become the person I know I am and live the life that I know is possible has been the catalyst for creating Ya Doma Nature and Forest Therapy."

Kim is the founder of Ya Doma Nature and Forest Therapy. She spent her early life living in nature, primarily amongst the ponderosa pines and fresh lakes of the Okanagan. It was important to her to spend as much of her life outside in nature. So, when it was time to make a career choice she chose for it to be in the forest.

She received her diploma at BCIT in Renewable Resources- Forestry and set about the next few years caring for the forests. She felt very privileged to be walking the untouched earth of northern BC and Alberta where the creatures of the land were plenty.

Kim wanting more stability and a family went back to school to become a teacher. She received her BA in Geography at UVic and then her BEd at UBC.

Kim taught part time while raising her children. It wasn't until she started a small teaching contract that she realized her students at the tender age of 5 and 6 needed to be outside - as did she. So, she created Forest Friday. Every Friday she would take her students out to the back forest to play, explore, be inquisitive and develop as caring and compassionate human beings. Her passion for outdoor learning filtered through the school and was supported. The school was now on a path to becoming an Outdoor school. Kim presented her program and ideas to the School Board, presented to the teachers of the School District for Professional Development and presented to parents of her students. Kim was having the best of both worlds; living her passion of helping and teaching others while being in nature.

Kim explored other paths along her journey. During a time where she needed great healing and support, Forest Therapy found Kim. She was in the forest when she received the insight to check out forest bathing. She began her next phase of her life committed to healing herself. The Forest Therapy training and practicum was Kim's way of healing from what she encountered on her journey. She believes that if Forest Therapy could help her through her darkest times it could help anyone through theirs. Kim is now a certified Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.

Kim practices forest therapy on a regular basis, listening to her inner voice. She has a new perspective and is creating a life that is truly hers. "I see how I am the creator of my own life and how I am 100% responsible." Kim is walking her truth. Kim has now found another way to live her life purpose; by living in a way that she can personally heal as she helps and teaches those on the path who are seeking to heal as well. "As we individually take the responsibility of healing ourselves, so do our relationships, our communities, our culture, our surroundings and our earth. Come walk with me."