My Story
In 2012 I was an award-winning television producer with two children under five when overnight I found myself blind and paralysed following a rare neurological illness.
It took a year to re-learn to walk and to recover the partial sight I have today. Reinventing my self as ‘Patient H69’ a deep curiosity to better understand the mechanics of my mind sent me down a new, science-communication path.
Two books later and collaborations with Cambridge neuroscientists have made me the self-experimenting author, researcher and wellness advocate I am today.
A road map to meditation
Meditation is not one-size-fits-all and styles can vary enormously. From mindfulness to hypnosis to psychedelics, my consciousness road trip, covering 12 different mind-training techniques, provides a tried-and-tested roadmap of which practice might be right for you.
Second Sight
Imagine waking up one morning to find yourself blind and paralysed. In 2012 a catastrophic illness wiped out two of my senses. As I recovered I set out on a voyage of discovery to uncover the extraordinary science behind my visual rebirth.
ParkBathe Project
A citizen science green health podcast project with Dr Kirsten McEwan providing FREE 1hr mindful walks for ‘nature sceptics’ to experience the benefits of urban forest bathing in Crystal Palace Park, London. To book a free walk and find out more click below.
Speaking
‘Vanessa’s talk to year 11 MAGT students and A level Psychology students was thought-provoking, illuminating and inspiring.’
Podcast
Finding Your Right Mind is a podcast for the curious, the sceptic and the optimist. I dig into the science of wellbeing and ask some challenging questions. Through expert interviews and discussions I take a bespoke approach to health and offer you different ways to help yourself live a calmer, more connected and meaningful life.
Don’t forget to check out series 3 which is jam-packed with information about forest medicine and features ParkBathe – the National Lottery funded, urban forest bathing citizen science study.
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Stefan Batorijs: The language of nature and a cathedral made of trees.
ParkBathe: Rewilding, conservation and thinking like an Environmentalist.
Conservation BONUS: Ways to improve your life AND the planet
News & Events
Meditating alone can be challenging. If you’re a beginner, or you struggle to meditate or you’d just like to meditate with others, join my women-only group on Fridays in Crystal Palace park. Explore a variety of tried-and-tested techniques to improve your health and wellbeing.
Brunette photo created by drobotdean – www.freepik.com
Tracing Time: A wellness revolution
Find out what I learnt about myself – and what science learnt about me. Read the revolutionary new study from Cambridge neuroscientists that is paving the way for bespoke healthcare.
ParkBathe
I co-founded ParkBathe in with Dr Kirsten McEwan a health researcher at Derby university. The project, funded by the National Lottery, encourages wellness sceptics to experience a streamlined version of forest bathing in Crystal Palace Park.