THE FOREST STUDIO
A Space for Women to Reflect, Create, and Explore What’s Next
500
Women from around the world have joined classes online
COME AS YOU ARE
Highly Rated
Hello, Welcome to The Forest Studio
Online Courses for Women in Midlife — Live, In-the-Room Experiences
I’m Rachel Schmidt, BSW, PLC, and I create reflective, nature-based art and learning experiences for women who want to reconnect with themselves beyond the roles they hold in life and work.​ My work offers a gentle alternative to the traditional women’s wellness retreat — designed for those seeking meaningful renewal in a way that is accessible, affordable, and woven into real life.
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Through online retreats for women, virtual wellness programs, and nature inspired contemplative art courses, I offer live, guided experiences — not pre-recorded video courses — where you are welcomed into a space that feels deeply human, relational, and present.
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These are safe, generative spaces where you can show up as your true self. Spaces that are warm, depth-oriented, and quietly joyful. Spaces where insight unfolds naturally through reflection, expressive arts, and shared experience.
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Drawing on over 30 years in social work and teaching, I integrate nature-based mindfulness, Psychosynthesis, and contemplative arts to support creative self-discovery, emotional wellbeing, and personal growth in midlife.
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Whether you’re looking for a women’s retreat alternative in Canada or a meaningful way to step out of the noise of daily life, this work invites you to slow down, reconnect, and experience yourself in a new way — without needing to leave your life behind.
Reflections in the Natural World
Sometimes we need a place to pause — to step out of the noise of daily life and return to quieter questions.
This space holds writings shaped by observation, lived experience, and attention to the natural rhythms that guide both creativity and change. They are not instructions or answers, but offerings meant to accompany you as you reflect, wander, and listen more closely to your own life.
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If you find yourself longing for a slower pace, deeper meaning, or words that help you notice what is unfolding within you, you are invited to begin here.