“I spent 4 days at the forest and it was truly life affirming. The nature, food, fellowship, yoga, hiking, forest bathing and more was just what I needed to reset and realign. I'd been going so hard at work and feeling a lot of the heaviness of the pandemic. I jumped at an opportunity to join one of the Just Love Forest summer camps and really glad that I did.

Despite arriving at night, in the rain in the aftermath of a tropical storm, I immediately felt welcome and at home. Bala greeted me and showed me to my beautiful glamping tent, an oversized canvas surrounded by nature. Inside had enough space for a super comfy full sized bed, seating and yoga area. I had the most magical night sleep that first night, listening to the sound of the rain gently pelting off the canvas. The next morning began with one hour of meditation in nature, a combination of silent meditation, kundalini breathwork, and kirtan.

Then I had the opportunity to meet the rest of the Just Love Forest Team. What an incredible crew. We circled up for a little meet and greet and then to learn about the morning volunteer projects. I volunteered to work on a project with Cody, who is a mystical yogi beaming with light. We instantly bonded over Ram Dass and Alan Watts. Cody led the meditation and yoga later in the afternoon and which was wonderful, and then later he DJ'd. Not much this guy can’t do and he does it all with ease and grace and flow.

After the morning volunteer projects we had lunch, a beautiful display of farm to table, forest to fork and vegan delights. A local restaurant, who had no experience in vegan food, offered to learn and prepare some of their famous dishes vegan, how cool is that? All week we ate a hyper local, forest-fresh, organic, clean diet.

In the afternoon we finished up our projects and hiked up to summit camp which is unreal. The hike up is an awesome, a beautiful trail through the conifer trees. En route I learned a lot about Forest tending, phytoncides, and the magic of forest bathing. Each day at summer camp was a mix of small team projects mixed with meditations, site seeing, talks, and meeting incredible people from around the world. A highlight of the trip was bathing in the mountain spring which was so incredibly refreshing and invigorating. You can even drink the spring water from the falls!

I really can't say enough about this enchanted and magical forest. I can't wait to go back, either for another summer camp, retreat with co-workers or family, or just to reconnect with nature and myself.

Thank you to Bala and team for your loving hospitality and helping me ground and re-center. Can't wait to see you all again soon!”

— Greg Bell

“Truly a must to experience Just Love Forrest. There are no words to fully explain this magical & yet personal experience. The environment, atmosphere, & energy….. to be as one in harmony with nature. The meals, sleeping accommodations, structure of the daily service opportunities, meditations, prayers, yoga, nightly camp fire gatherings, the tentativeness of Bala and his JLF crew to simply and wholeheartedly selflessly serve others…..all absolutely priceless.❣️

Meeting people, and making new friends. Truly a unique and special experience to engage and interact with such a wide diversity of individuals, when brought together, the essence of oneness and unconditional love vibrates throughout the forrest.

An unlimited potential to experience personal spiritual growth!!

— Rob Challand

“My time at Just Love was incredibly therapeutic.

Working amongst the lush landscape, listening to the heavenly bird songs, sinking into the shimmering silence, held by the immaculate Presence of tree spirits, animal medicines, elemental beings, nature devas...I experienced such a deep level of grounding and centeredness--perfectly content and whole. The spirits of the land celebrate here.

Bala and his soul tribe crew are incredibly generous, aware, and caring, ensuring my absolute comfort. I was so grateful to stay the night in a beautiful, clean canvas bell tent (with comfy memory foam mattress and wooden furniture to boot!) that stayed bone dry in the torrential downpour. Even the rainstorm was a welcome gift, as I got to hike up to the campsite, drenched in warm rain, swinging from the wooden swings that dotted the path, drinking in the incredible views. My inner child heart was so happy.

Bala had driven my belongings up to the campsite, so I had dry clothes awaiting me. I went to bed feeling so refreshed and rejuvenated. In the morning, Bala let us play with his harmonium, which was very fun, and we enjoyed more work time together...so much laughter, playfulness, and deep conversation on this trip!

If you feel compelled to visit Just Love, whether to volunteer, work, or enjoy a forest immersion experience, I am sure you will experience absolute magick. Just love. <3”

— Christina Della Iacono