Human Forest: A Guided Touch & Connection Experience

When was the last time you spent a few hours doing absolutely nothing productive?

No phones. No small talk to keep going. No jobs to finish. Just slowing down and experiencing connection in a completely different way.

Human Forest is a gentle, guided group experience using touch, stillness and attention.

During the afternoon, everyone gets to experience both giving and receiving slow, nurturing touch within clearly agreed boundaries. There’s very little talking during the Forest itself, so you can simply relax into the experience rather than wondering what to say or what you’re supposed to do next.

It can be surprisingly calming, playful and just genuinely nice.

You don’t need any experience and you definitely don’t need to be a particularly “touchy” person. Come solo, with friends or with a partner.

Everything is guided and optional. You decide what kind of touch feels good for you, and you can change your mind at any point.

What actually happens?

We start with a relaxed welcome and a few simple exercises so everyone understands how the afternoon works and can communicate their preferences.

Then half the group becomes the trees. Trees wear eye masks and stay in one place while receiving gentle touch.

The other half become the critters, moving through the Forest and offering touch according to each tree’s preferences.

Then everyone swaps.

That’s really the heart of it: getting to experience what it feels like to simply receive, and then what it feels like to offer touch without needing anything in return.

Lee and the Love & Play team guide the whole experience, so you’re never left wondering what happens next.

Why do people enjoy it?

Because most of us rarely slow down like this.

We’re working, parenting, organising, scrolling, talking, planning or thinking about the next thing.

For a few hours, you don’t have to do any of that.

You might find it relaxing. You might laugh. You might discover that you really enjoy receiving touch. You might simply enjoy doing something you’ve never tried before.

There isn’t a particular outcome you’re meant to have.

Do I have to participate in everything?

No.

You can modify any part of the event, observe, take a break or decide something is not for you.

Who is it for?

Human Forest welcomes adults of all genders, bodies, orientations, relationship styles and experience levels.

You just need to be curious and respectful of other people's choices.

A note about emotional wellbeing

Touch can sometimes bring up unexpected feelings.

If you have a history of trauma involving touch, or you are unsure whether a group touch experience feels right for you at the moment, you are very welcome to contact Love & Play at hello@loveandplay.co before booking. We can explain exactly how the session works so you can decide for yourself.

Meet your facilitator

Lee Tiepermann runs monthly Human Forest events in Melbourne and has extensive experience facilitating breathwork, men's circles and connection-based group experiences.

His training includes 9D Breathwork, the Wim Hof Method, trauma-informed coaching, NLP, sound facilitation and Reiki.

For Human Forest, what matters most is the way he facilitates: calm, clear, unhurried and attentive to the individual choices of the people in the room.

Lee will guide the group through the agreements, boundaries and each stage of the experience.

The venue

The Human Forest will take place at The Breath Bar, a warm and welcoming studio in central Geelong.

The Breath Bar
Level 1, 138A Malop Street
Geelong VIC 3220

The venue is upstairs and is not wheelchair accessible. The experience also includes periods of standing, moving around the room and changing position.

Please contact Love & Play before booking if you have mobility limitations or other accessibility requirements.

Detailed arrival instructions will be emailed to ticket holders before the event.

What to wear and bring

Wear clean, comfortable clothing that allows you to move and change position easily. Soft trousers or leggings, a comfortable top, layers and warm socks are suitable.

Please avoid sharp zips, buckles, rough embellishments, jewellery that may catch or scratch, and strong fragrances.

You may choose to remove some outer layers, but this is never required. Underwear must remain on throughout the event.

Please bring:

• A water bottle

• Warm layers and socks

Eye masks and other equipment will be provided. You may bring your own eye mask if preferred.

Because this is a close-contact experience, please arrive freshly showered and wearing clean clothing. Do not attend with an infectious illness, uncovered sores or a contagious skin condition.

Privacy, alcohol and devices

The Human Forest is an alcohol- and drug-free event. Anyone who appears intoxicated will not be admitted.

No photography, video or audio recording is permitted. Phones, smartwatches and recording devices must be switched off and put away before the experience begins.

You may speak about your own experience afterwards, but please protect the identities and privacy of other participants.

Arrival and timing

Please arrive between 2:45 pm and 3:00 pm.

Doors close at 3:00 pm.

The opening orientation covers essential information about consent, boundaries and how the experience works. Late arrivals cannot be admitted once the group has begun.

Event details

Date: Saturday 17 October 2026
Time: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Arrival: 2:45 pm - 3:00 pm
Venue: The Breath Bar, Level 1, 138A Malop Street, Geelong
Age: 18+
Experience required: None
Love & Play Spice level: 2 Chillies (Clothed touch)
Accessibility: The upstairs venue is not wheelchair accessible
Alcohol and drugs: This is an alcohol- and drug-free event
Photography: Not permitted

Tickets, refunds and transfers

Tickets are non-refundable.

If you can no longer attend, you may transfer your ticket to another person or request that its value be transferred to a later eligible Love & Play event, subject to availability and applicable transfer conditions.

Requests must be received before the event begins. Tickets cannot be refunded or transferred if you arrive too late to be admitted or do not attend.

If Love & Play cancels or reschedules the event, ticket holders will be contacted directly with the available options.

Questions before booking?

You are welcome to contact Love & Play at hello@loveandplay.co if you have questions about the touch involved, consent, accessibility, attending alone or anything else that may affect your participation.

Come as you are. Participate at your own pace. Your yes, your no and your change of mind are all welcome.