Students at Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness experience what it can feel like to get regular sleep, drink plenty of water, eat whole foods, practice mindfulness, and habituate daily self-care through stretching and a structured hygienic routine. They learn to engage with their bodies in an empowering way by practicing yoga, exercise, mindful eating, and meditation. The consistent blend of these small yet impactful habits helps to create amazing changes in students’ bodies and minds and better equip them to make choices that lead to health and success.
The staff at Blue Ridge understand the impact of a healthy body and mind and thus prioritize implementing skills and tools that lead to greater overall well-being. Nicole Borth, Blue Ridge’s Health and Wellness Coordinator and certified yoga instructor, works to integrate a whole-body wellness approach with all students by visiting the field and offering nutrition lessons, yoga sessions, mindfulness practices, and guided interval training. In conjunction with Nicole’s expertise, Field Instructors and therapists monitor students’ nutrition and water intake and regularly practice mindfulness, breathing techniques, and exercise with students. The belief is that it is not only a form of mental and physical exercise but a way to increase student's tolerance for distress and increase emotional capacity.
The Health and Wellness program at Blue Ridge aims to enrich students’ bodies and minds. Their philosophy is that comprehensive health and wellness (emotional, physical, mental and spiritual) is necessary for students to thrive. In addition to plenty of healthy provisions, students are also routinely introduced to a variety of regular mindfulness practices, yoga classes, guided meditations and exercise. In the wilderness, students learn techniques that can be used in any environment. They also discover that they have the ability to make choices for themselves that can lead to improvements in all areas of their lives.
About Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness
Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness (BRTW) founded in 2002 as a licensed wilderness therapy program that offers clinically driven wilderness therapy programs encompassing advanced therapeutic skills, a highly flexible nomadic wilderness therapy model, licensed wilderness therapy assessment and multiple treatment options for struggling teens ages 13-18 as well as young adults ages 18-30 in their Emerald Arrow program. Their individualized approach, family support, and commitment to service translate to an unparalleled experience and better outcomes for adolescents and families.