FAQ

To accommodate our seminar participants, we offer our seminars throughout Europe and other countries. You have the option to book the seminars at one of our locations or, by arrangement, attend an in-house event directly at your company headquarters.

Beyond private individuals, we also provide customized training in clinics and hospitals – thereby contributing to health promotion in the medical field, which is something particularly close to our hearts.

We are present at various locations in Austria, Switzerland, and internationally with our offers, training, and trips.

The International Academy for Natural Health & Forest Bathing offers you the opportunity to rediscover or strengthen the evolutionary connection between humans and nature in an individualized way. This can be in the form of training in the natural field, a themed trip to a special landscape, or a seminar in and with nature.

Our focus is particularly on forests, where many of our trainings, seminars, and events take place. On our trips, however, the focus is on nature in general. Our training programs are accessible to everyone and can be booked without any specific prior knowledge.

Since 2018, we have been training people in the natural field, standing for sustainability and quality. Thanks to the comprehensive training of our instructors, they are capable of leading professional and mindful seminars and courses. We naturally hold our guest lecturers to the same high standards.

Graduates who have visited us in recent years come from all over Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Austria, and Switzerland. We strive to position our locations in such a way that as many people as possible have the opportunity to benefit from the professional and personal value of our training, educational trips, and continuing education programs. Sometimes the distances are indeed longer, but it is up to you and your commitment to embark on this journey and fulfill something that is important to you.

We have attempted to include parking information for each event location and have provided details on Google Maps. Please understand that we cannot guarantee that parking will be entirely seamless on-site. Additionally, please be aware that we are not responsible for any potential parking fees.

Depending on the booked course, these costs are calculated differently. For accommodation, you will usually pay the amount directly at the lodging, except for travel packages. Please refer to the specific offerings to determine whether meals and beverages are included in the course fees.

Single rooms in accommodations can vary in size and cannot always be guaranteed in advance. Typically, a private bathroom is either within the room or shared in the hallway. In guesthouses, it’s common to have various shared bathrooms available. Please read the specific descriptions of the locations carefully for detailed information.

Half double rooms are shared by two guests of the same sex or, upon request, different sexes, and usually feature separate beds. The advantage of a half double room is that it often offers a lower price, including meals. Availability is limited for such rooms abroad.

Full board typically starts with breakfast. For the outdoor sessions, a packed lunch is provided, or a light meal such as soup, salad, or snacks may be served. In the evening, a warm meal with several components is offered. During meals, flavored water or a soft drink is provided, but other beverages are not included and must be purchased separately.

In the seminar room, there are small snacks and drinks available. The specific offerings may vary from one accommodation to another, and many services are included in the price when traveling abroad. Please check the location details on our website, where different types of meal options, including vegan and vegetarian choices, are specified.

Please note that we cannot guarantee the quality of these services, as they are provided by the accommodation and not directly managed by us. If you have any questions or concerns, we recommend contacting the accommodation directly. Additionally, be aware that prices and services may be subject to change.

The daily flat rate includes various services, which are specified at each location or seminar venue for the respective dates. This may include amenities such as coffee, tea, and water in the seminar room, as well as fruits, cookies, a small lunch package, or a light dinner. It may also cover the use of the facility, local taxes, etc.

Since the academy does not set the amount of the daily flat rate, it must be paid directly at the accommodation. Please note that we are not the service provider for this, but rather organize it for our participants. The daily flat rate is mandatory, even if you stay overnight elsewhere or return home in the evening. It is automatically included when you make a booking. Alternatively, you can choose the full board option, in which case the daily flat rate is waived.

The costs for meals, drinks, and snacks are not included in the seminar or training fees.

We review on a case-by-case basis whether we can recognize some of your prior training from other institutions. Please provide us with copies of your participation certificates, diplomas, or similar documents. If you have questions about the suitability of your prior qualifications, feel free to contact us by phone or email.

To complete comprehensive training programs or packages, such as the ‘Nature Relaxation Educator,’ it is necessary to complete at least 80% of the training modules from the corresponding package. Recognized modules from other providers can then be replaced by other equivalent courses. This allows you to attend alternative offerings that have similar value.

However, for some of our training packages, we may not be able to recognize qualifications from other institutions due to various reasons. This is particularly true for training in areas such as meditation and mindfulness, where the modules build upon each other.

We are accredited by the Hessian Ministry of Culture – Institute for Quality Development – as a provider of continuing education and training programs. This means that teachers in Hesse can earn performance points for participating in various training sessions in accordance with § 8 of the IQ and Accreditation Regulation.
Please note that these accreditations do not represent state recognition, either with us or with other providers. Although it might seem otherwise, this is not the case. If you have any questions or uncertainties, we would be happy to provide more information by phone.

You have the option to purchase seminar insurance at the time of booking, which covers all expenses. We can gladly apply a portion of it towards rescheduling to a new date.

In the case of last-minute cancellations, it is often not possible to fill the spot if there is no one on the waiting list, and the place remains vacant. Similar to a vacation, it is important to consider whether you want to purchase insurance that reimburses the training fees in case of illness, allowing you to rebook. You can find such insurance under our service button. However, you are welcome to send a replacement person to take your place.

If you take out seminar insurance, it can protect you against potential cancellation costs. Life is not always predictable. For instance, it covers situations like trip cancellations, illness, or significant delays during travel to training courses held abroad.

With the seminar insurance from ERGO Travel Insurance that we recommend, you can also protect yourself against the risk of contracting COVID-19 with a one-time payment of 4 euros.

In the case of a very last-minute cancellation, it is rarely possible to fill your spot, which would then remain vacant. Therefore, it is not possible to reschedule your confirmed training free of charge. It is advisable to consider purchasing a relevant insurance policy in advance. This insurance would reimburse the training fees in case of illness, allowing you to book a future date without financial loss.

Discounts cannot be combined and cannot be used in conjunction with early booking discounts or other reductions.

Rescheduling is possible up to 6 weeks before the start of the booked event, provided that the deposit has been paid. A rescheduling fee of €40 will be charged. Discounts cannot be reapplied during rescheduling and will be forfeited.

The currently published price of the event on the website will apply for rescheduling. Rescheduling less than 6 weeks before the event start or shorter, even for last-minute bookings, will be treated as cancellations and handled according to the cancellation conditions in the terms and conditions. We recommend purchasing event cancellation insurance.

Installment payments are generally possible. Please contact us directly to arrange a payment plan. Please note that with installment payments, the issuance of the certificate or participation confirmation can only occur after the full invoice amount has been paid.

Cancellation: The cancellation deadlines are specified in our General Terms and Conditions, which can be found in their current version on our website.

The remaining payment for a booked service must be completed no later than six weeks before the start of the event. If no payment is received in the account specified on the invoice, no further information regarding the event will be provided. If the full invoice amount is not received by the start of the event, participation will not be possible. For bookings made up to two days before the event, the full amount is due immediately.

The deposit for a booked service is due within 14 days from the date of the invoice. The invoice date is binding.

Certification is an acknowledgment provided through various third-party assessments. It ensures that certain requirements related to international standards, industry-specific specifications, or technical regulations are met. Certification is based on a conformity assessment, which evaluates whether the requirements are fulfilled.

Various training institutions refer to a qualification level according to EQR or EQF. This classification of education follows the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), which is implemented in Germany as the German Qualifications Framework (DQR).

Currently, there are no specific guidelines for such qualification levels for private institutions and academies. Therefore, this classification is not relevant for us

The International Academy for Natural Health & Forest Bathing draws on experts from a wide range of disciplines. To ensure that our training and educational programs are always up-to-date with the latest scientific advancements, we have access to a diverse team of specialists. Authorities from various fields collaborate interdisciplinarily, contributing their specific knowledge and skills to our programs. This committee ensures quality assurance and the continuous development of the Academy.

Our trainers are entitled to display the ‘Certified Quality Seal’ of the International Academy for Natural Health & Forest Bathing. This seal is awarded only to participants who have successfully completed our accredited training for trainers and consultants, fulfilling all educational content and achieving all training objectives. Our programs require participants to demonstrate exceptional motivation, willingness to learn, and a stable and ethically oriented personality. Earning the quality seal signifies achieving a high level of training excellence.

Currently, there are no restrictions. If there are any changes, we will inform you promptly.

Our interested participants start as young as 24 years old, with the oldest being 82 years old. The groups are diverse, which makes it special. However, the average age is between 35 and 55 years. Both women and men are equally represented across the various topics.

There are always very diverse groups with people from various fields such as medicine, education, and therapy. Career changers from trades and commercial sectors are also part of the target audience for the courses and trips, as well as simply interested individuals.
It creates a wonderful mix from all areas, allowing for engaging learning and development on an equal footing. Any necessary prerequisites are outlined in the course descriptions.

Prior knowledge or experience with nature is always helpful. However, enthusiasm for people and nature, as well as an open approach to working with others and a willingness to learn relaxation techniques and methods applied in both theory and practice, are sufficient prerequisites. What is especially important for participation is openness, curiosity, acceptance of the content being taught, and a willingness to engage with it. Additionally, a mindful approach without judgment is essential.

Sometimes, it is only during the training, which was started for professional reasons or as a second career, that one realizes how profoundly the various tools and methods can enhance their personality and well-being. The newly gained insights and skills can be applied both professionally and personally.

If you are interested, you are welcome to join the closed group on Facebook or the course leader network page to connect with others on topics such as carpooling, questions, assistance, or exchanging ideas. In our training programs, you will also discover additional opportunities for networking.

Unless otherwise specified, we conduct classes in English, French, or Spanish, depending on the location. Please note that we generally cannot accommodate language difficulties for the benefit of the group. If you have hearing impairments, please contact us in advance.

Class times start at 9:00 AM and end at 5:30 PM or 6:30 PM. On the arrival day, we start at 9:30 AM, and the last day ends at 4:00 PM. The daily instruction time consists of 8 sessions of 45 minutes each, plus break times. Changes are subject to adjustment and will be detailed in the information sent 4 weeks prior or directly in the description on our website. Please also check the PDF information sheets for the respective offerings. We recommend keeping your evenings free on training days, as there is often a concluding evening event or an additional practical session in the evening, which will be arranged with the group on-site.

These include the training/seminar fee as well as accommodation and full board in either a shared double room or a single room, depending on the specific listing. For international programs, the cost also covers entrance fees, transfers, and transportation to/from the meeting point. Further details can be found in the specific description on our relevant pages.

For certain topics or training formats both domestically and internationally, we place a strong emphasis on individual learning processes or provide a private setting for those with specific needs. Some people also prefer to learn in a smaller group. These formats cater to such needs. The content and topics are the same as in other modules with more participants, but the smaller group size allows for more time for exchange, deepening, and exploration. You can always find the group size and maximum number of participants listed with each specific offering.

Our training and continuing education programs are typically conducted in small groups. We aim for a maximum of 14 participants, although the number is often lower. This ensures personalized attention for everyone and helps create a supportive environment for all attendees.

Depending on the booked service, customized installment payments can also be arranged.

Our products, including books and scripts, as well as the paper we use, are produced in a climate-neutral manner and are used efficiently. This means we print only as much as is actually needed or required.

The impacts of climate change on the academy are diverse. On one hand, it poses risks such as the loss of accommodations and forest areas due to damage from extreme weather events.

The seal as a climate-neutral company means that the emissions produced have been balanced through carbon sinks. It does not directly provide information about the company’s sustainability practices or social standards.

As a climate-neutral academy, we demonstrate our commitment to climate protection. This allows us to serve as an environmentally conscious role model for others.

The academy has decided to operate without the use of coal, oil, or gas for energy consumption. Consequently, we ensure that our products and services do not require the use of coal, oil, or gas by their users.

The academy is considered CO₂/climate-neutral because it does not produce harmful emissions or compensates for any greenhouse gases generated through certified offset projects.