Saturday 17 October 2026
3:00 pm–6:00 pm
The Breath Bar, Geelong

What happens when you step away from conversation, screens and everyday busyness - and simply slow down with other people?

The Human Forest is a carefully guided group experience that explores connection through gentle touch, stillness and attention.

During the afternoon, you will experience both giving and receiving touch within clear boundaries. There is no pressure to perform, make conversation or participate beyond what feels right for you.

It is designed for curious, open-minded adults who want to try something different in a structured and welcoming environment.

No previous experience is needed. Come on your own, with friends or with a partner or partners.

What happens in the Human Forest?

We begin with a welcome, consent agreements and simple connection exercises to help everyone settle into the room and communicate their preferences.

Half of the group then begins as the trees. Trees wear eye masks and remain in one place while receiving slow, gentle touch.

The other half becomes the critters, moving through the Forest and offering touch within each tree’s clearly communicated boundaries.

The roles rotate so everyone can experience both giving and receiving.

Communication during the Forest is primarily non-verbal. Without the usual pressure to make small talk or respond in a particular way, you can pay closer attention to your body, your boundaries and how different kinds of connection feel.

Lee and the Love & Play team remain present throughout to guide the experience and provide support.

Why experience it?

Many of us spend much of our time thinking, talking, working, looking at screens or managing what needs to happen next.

The Human Forest offers an opportunity to slow that pace and connect differently.

Wanted, consensual touch can support feelings of calm, connection and body awareness. The experience may also help you:

Practise noticing and communicating boundaries
Receive nurturing touch without needing to perform or make conversation
Explore giving touch without expectation
Experience closeness outside a romantic or sexual context
Become more aware of what feels comfortable and settling
Connect with others in a quieter, less socially demanding way

There is no particular way you are expected to feel. You might experience calm, playfulness, tenderness, emotion, curiosity, or something else entirely.

The Human Forest is not therapy and does not promise a particular emotional or wellbeing outcome.

Who is it for?

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

It may appeal to you if you are curious about connection through touch, would like more nurturing touch in your life or want to explore your boundaries in a clearly facilitated environment.

You do not need to be particularly confident, affectionate, spiritual or experienced. A willingness to listen to yourself and respect other people’s boundaries is enough.

What kind of touch is involved?

Touch is slow, gentle and offered with care.

Depending on each person’s stated preferences, it may include the hands, arms, shoulders, back, head, hair, legs, feet, stomach, chest or breasts. Touch may take place over clothing or directly on exposed skin.

Stomach, chest and breast touch is never assumed. You decide which areas are welcome, which are off-limits and whether you prefer touch over clothing or on skin.

Genital touch is not included.

Before entering the Forest, you will clearly communicate your preferences. Agreeing to one kind of touch does not mean agreeing to anything else.

You can change your mind, remove your eye mask, request a change, pause or step out at any time.

Is it sexual?

The Human Forest is a non-sexual touch experience.

Touch may feel warm, close, intimate or sensual, but the experience does not include sexual activity.

The following agreements apply to everyone:

No genital touch
No kissing
No sexual activity
Each individual can decide how much skin to expose, but as a general rule, wearing underwear is the minimum requirement.

People attending with a partner follow the same agreements as everyone else. These boundaries create clarity and allow people to experience touch without wondering whether it is expected to lead somewhere else.

Consent and emotional care

Everything is invitational. You will never be required to touch someone, receive touch, remove clothing, explain a boundary or remain in an exercise.

Consent is specific, ongoing and reversible. A yes can become a no at any time.

Touch-focused experiences can sometimes bring up unexpected emotions. Please consider whether you currently feel emotionally and physically able to participate in a group touch experience.

If you have a history of trauma involving touch or are unsure whether the event is suitable for you, contact Love & Play before booking. We can explain the format more fully so you can make an informed decision.

Meet your facilitator

Lee Tiepermann

Lee is an experienced breathwork and group facilitator who runs monthly Human Forest events in Melbourne.

He is a Certified 9D Breathwork Facilitator, a Certified Wim Hof Method Instructor, and a member of the International Breathwork Foundation. His wider training includes trauma-informed coaching, NLP life coaching, sound facilitation and Reiki, alongside experience facilitating men’s circles and connection-based group experiences.

Lee brings a calm, attentive and clearly structured approach to the Human Forest. He will guide the group through the consent framework and each stage of the experience, with support from the Love & Play team.

Lee is the founder of A Journey to Sacred.

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 remains 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 to transfer its value to a later eligible Love & Play event, subject to availability and the 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 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.

Human Forest: A Guided Touch & Connection Experience

Choose your tickets

Super Early Critter ticket

Early Critter ticket

Standard Critter ticket