About Earthwalk
The foundation of our studio combines the physical with the inner emotional and spiritual journey. The facilitators at the Earthwalk Nature Studio have over 15 years experience within the holistic healing space.
By integrating body, breath, movement, and meditative awareness, we promote awareness of the interdependency of all these aspects in personal health and wellbeing.
​
At Earthwalk, we use our extensive training and in-depth understanding of the human body and psyche to teach and cultivate awareness of one’s own practices and life process. Much of our suffering can be traced back to a deep sense of separation from the natural world.
​
The Earthwalk Nature Studio’s core intention is to shift and raise consciousness through embodiment and trauma resolution. It is a space that offers various experiential programmes, workshops and teachings that include animals, such as the horse, nature and the elements, music, expressive movement, art, breathwork, and somatic healing that can assist in raising personal and collective consciousness.
At Earthwalk we aim to motivate the connection to our higher selves, that can give us the wisdom and skills needed to bring peace into our own lives and to access the unseen solutions to our lives.
​
The good news is that the doorway to a higher dimension — nature itself — is all around you every day.
Nicola Michl
Natural Healer and Therapist
Nicola is the owner of Earthwalk PTY (LTD), the home of the therapy horses.
Nicola’s deep connection with horses began in early childhood and she has worked with them extensively over the past 25 years. Her first horse was gifted to her by her father. The significance that the horse held for her in overcoming life’s challenges very quickly translated into a passion of passing this knowledge on to others to experience healing and joy in their lives.
​
Her interest in a holistic approach to healing began at university with her interest in Fine Art, Psychology and Philosophy, as well as Quantum Physics. She has a BA Honours degree in Fine Art from UCT. In 2006 she studied to become a certified natural healer and counsellor, trained as an apprentice in shamanism and is a registered Ethnic Health Care Practitioner with the Natural Healers Association (NHA). She is also a member of the Metaphysics Association of South Africa. In 2009 she trained with the US based organization, EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association), up to advanced level in equine assisted therapy. In 2014 she co-founded the Equinox Trust, an NGO that facilitates empowerment programmes for communities and individuals in need providing meaningful encounters with horses.
She has been working in the field of Equine facilitated therapy for the past 14 years and saw a need for including the spiritual aspects of the self. Combining a unique blend of connecting with the wisdoms of the natural world and allowing the horses to guide our spirits to the insights that we need to heal ourselves to find freedom and bring peace to our lives. She is currently working with her herd offering various therapeutic and self-development sessions, rehabilitating horses and helping their owners to develop a deeper horse-human connection. She has also been creating a specialized training programme, The Dawn Horse, for healers, therapists and horse lovers that are passionate in helping others through increased awareness and an expanded consciousness.
She continues on her personal journey of self-awareness with devotion as a loyal student of the horse.
When we open our hearts to one another and the living world around us, the warmth of care and compassion can move through our system while lifting our spirit and the energetic environment around us.
Olivia Badach
Holistic Wellness Practitioner
Olivia Badach is the owner of The Human Spiral which focuses on the journey of Being. Her belief is that to invite awareness of embodied stories we open the door to healing, integration and transformation. She holds a deeply compassionate space that nurtures self-expression and heart-based connection. Her effectiveness as a facilitator and healer comes from her own life experiences and years of spiritual exploration and application.
​
Olivia’s keen interest in people began with her studies in Industrial Psychology and Sociology at UNISA. She later acquired a diploma in craniosacral therapy (2003) and is a practising therapist registered with the Craniosacral Therapy Association of South Africa (CSTSA).
Olivia has completed her Master I, II and III coach training through Creative Consciousness©, is an accredited Insights Discovery© client practitioner, certified Enneagram practitioner, and an Advanced Soul Plan Reader and Soul Transformation Therapy practitioner registered with Holistic Healing College in the UK.
In 2013 her journey with horses began. It was the beginning of a life-changing rite of passage to remembering and reconnection, a surrendering and opening of the heart, and a deep trust in the innate intelligence and wisdom of nature and the spirit of the horse.
Helen Hoekstra
Holistic Wellness Practitioner
Helen Hoekstra is a lover of Nature and the animal kingdom. She is a competent and compassionate Space holder, who has spent her life immersed in all aspects of Spiritual attunement. She is continually pushing her personal boundaries of comfort in a way of deepening her connection to Self and the Other and has completed a handful of courses related to Energy work. Helen is an Artist of Life and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sculpture.
She is also a certified Breathwork Instructor and tuning into the power of Breathwork has sharpened her awareness on many levels. She is called to share her heart expansion experiences and empower others to connect to, feel and spread their own Inner Light.
Helen has spent the last 13 years running her own raw/vegan Food business and has a passion for empowering people to enhance their well-being through conscious food choices, listening to their personal needs and training staff in food preparation. She loves to forage, ferment and explore the wonderful wild foods we have growing in abundance.
​
Helen has been training and expanding herself into horse work, through Earthwalk. She is so touched by the profound teachings of the horses and their wisdom, that she is called to share this too. The immense power and connection of the Heart field of the Horses has re-ignited her with her Souls wisdom . It is in this powerful space of Oneness that her love for this work has blossomed.
Helen Hoekstra
Holistic Wellness Practitioner
Helen Hoekstra is a lover of Nature and the animal kingdom. She is a competent and compassionate Space holder, who has spent her life immersed in all aspects of Spiritual attunement. She is continually pushing her personal boundaries of comfort in a way of deepening her connection to Self and the Other and has completed a handful of courses related to Energy work. Helen is an Artist of Life and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sculpture.
She is also a certified Breathwork Instructor and tuning into the power of Breathwork has sharpened her awareness on many levels. She is called to share her heart expansion experiences and empower others to connect to, feel and spread their own Inner Light.
Helen has spent the last 13 years running her own raw/vegan Food business and has a passion for empowering people to enhance their well-being through conscious food choices, listening to their personal needs and training staff in food preparation. She loves to forage, ferment and explore the wonderful wild foods we have growing in abundance.
​
Helen has been training and expanding herself into horse work, through Earthwalk. She is so touched by the profound teachings of the horses and their wisdom, that she is called to share this too. The immense power and connection of the Heart field of the Horses has re-ignited her with her Souls wisdom . It is in this powerful space of Oneness that her love for this work has blossomed.