Speaker Bio
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Ryan Benz is a celebrated speaker, Mindfulness Teacher, Nature Therapy Guide, Yoga Instructor, Life Coach, and is the award-winning author of Wander: A Memoir of Letting go and Walking 2,000 Miles to a Meaningful Life. His journey from a ‘successful’ but unfulfilled life to a profound connection with himself and the natural world has inspired countless individuals to embrace their own paths to self-discovery and well-being.
While successful by most external measures, by his early thirties, Ryan felt empty and exhausted, dissatisfied with his life, and eager to strengthen his connection to himself and the natural world. In the prime of his life, he chose a nontraditional path, diving headfirst into the world of mindfulness and letting go of everything contributing to his unhappiness—including the career he had spent over ten years building. Turning to the healing power of nature, Benz’s trek took him over two thousand miles through the woods from Georgia to Maine, and with each step traveled, he returned a little closer to his true self.
Ryan's story is a testament to the transformative power of mindfulness, nature, and the courage to chart a personal course. His message is clear: we all possess the capacity to choose our own unique path, one that aligns with our deepest aspirations and values. He empowers and motivates others to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery, providing the guidance and wisdom to find the courage to do so.
Since he started speaking publicly in 2017, he has been invited to inspire youth and young adults across the entire US from elementary to high school level with his school assembly program and as a guest for youth leadership retreats. Beyond that, he has worked with the staff at many of those schools, the students and staff at top Universities, and has conducted workshops for Fortune 500 companies as well as some of the nation’s largest Non-profit Organizations as part of their corporate employee wellness initiatives.
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Mindful Lessons from an Appalachian Trail Thru-hiker
TOPICS: Personal development, Motivation & Inspiration, Mental Health, Resilience
AUDIENCES: Grade K-12 Students, College Students (tailored appropriately for various age groups)
Together, we'll virtually walk over two thousand miles from Georgia to Maine, exploring the themes of adventure, self-discovery, and what it means to follow your heart. A testament to the transformative power of nature, mindfulness, and the courage to chart a personal course, Ryan draws on valuable life lessons for students around courage, resilience, empathy and compassion.
Learn more and request his program here.
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An invitation to disconnect to [re]connect.
AUDIENCES: Grade 6-12 Students, College Students, Teachers & Staff, Corporate Employees
The experiences Ryan creates are a combination of research-backed mental health strategies, Japanese shinrin-yoku (森林浴) or more commonly known as ‘forest bathing’ concepts, and mindfulness practices of spending time in nature for the purpose of enhancing health, wellness, and happiness.
Learn more and request his workshops here.
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“RYAN IS AN ENGAGING, HEARTFELT PRESENTER. HIS ENTHUSIASM WAS CONTAGIOUS. HE HAS PRACTICAL, LIFELONG LESSONS FOR STUDENTS WHICH ARE PRESENTED IN A CLEAR, CONCISE MANNER. HIS PICTURES AND VIDEOS WERE REMARKABLE, AS HIS UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE!”
— Frankford Township School District, NJ
“THIS PRESENTATION WAS INCREDIBLE AND I WAS INSPIRED BY YOUR STORY. THE STUDENTS WERE INTERESTED AND ENGAGED AND TOOK AWAY MANY GREAT MESSAGES ABOUT MINDFULNESS.”
— Stanwood-Camano School District, WA
“RYAN IS CHANGING LIVES. IN OUR HURRIED, TECHNOLOGY LADEN WORLD, HE GAVE US A REASON TO PAUSE AND THINK, PRESENTING IN A FUN, ENGAGING, AND INFORMATIVE WAY.”
— Wildwood City School District, NJ
“RYAN MADE OUR STUDENTS THINK ABOUT GETTING OFF SOCIAL MEDIA, BEING KIND AND ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS. HIS MESSAGE IS SORELY NEEDED IN TODAY’S WORLD AND IT WAS DELIVERED IN A MOTIVATING AND ENJOYABLE MANNER.”
— Dennis Township Public Schools, NJ
“I’VE BEEN TEACHING FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND THIS WAS THE BEST ASSEMBLY I’VE EVER SEEN.”
— Jefferson Township School District, NJ
“MY STUDENTS HAVE A NEW-FOUND APPRECIATION FOR NATURE. MANY SEEMED TO APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVING AWAY FROM THE SCREEN AND GETTING OUTSIDE.”
— Sussex Charter School, NJ
“I HOPE THIS MESSAGE REACHES EVERY CHILD EVERYWHERE!”
— Denville Township School District, NJ
“I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS PRESENTATION! IT WAS RELEVANT, ENGAGING, ENCOURAGING AND ENTERTAINING! ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE AND TAKE THIS PHENOMENAL JOURNEY WITH RYAN!”
— Old Bridge Township School District, NJ
“RYAN’S PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM WAS EVIDENT THROUGHOUT THIS AMAZING PRESENTATION. ANY STUDENT OF ANY AGE WOULD BE VERY FORTUNATE TO BE IN HIS AUDIENCE.”
— Wildwood City School District, NJ
“FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS WE’VE WORKED WITH RYAN TO SERVE AS OUR FIRST PRESENTATION TO LAUNCH OUR PASSAIC COUNTY YOUTH LEADERSHIP RETREAT. THE STORY OF HIS MOTIVATIONAL JOURNEY ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL AND HIS INTRODUCTION OF MINDFULNESS MEDITATION IN NATURE HAVE BEEN THE PERFECT STARTING POINT TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR THE REST OF THE RETREAT. THE STUDENTS LEAVE HIS PRESENTATION FEELING REFRESHED, GROUNDED, AND FOCUSED. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY RECOMMEND RYAN FOR ANYONE SEEKING A MOTIVATIONAL AND MINDFULNESS EXPERIENCE THAT WILL INSPIRE AND UPLIFT THEIR GROUP OR ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU, RYAN!”
— Passaic County Youth Leadership Retreat, NJ
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“THE SESSION WITH RYAN WAS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC - INSPIRATIONAL, VERY MOVING AND VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH OUR COURAGE VALUE!”
— KPMG, A Fortune 500 Company
“THIS EXPERIENCE COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME - EVERYONE NEEDS TO HEAR RYAN’S MESSAGE OF BEING MINDFUL, ESPECIALLY FOR SELF-CARE! GIVEN THE CURRENT CLIMATE, EVERYONE COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS WORKSHOP!”
— Family Promise Employee, a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization
“USUALLY WHEN I LEAVE PD, I AM EXHAUSTED, BORED, AND FRUSTRATED, BUT LEAVING THE MINDFULNESS SESSION, I FELT ENLIGHTENED AND FOCUSED WITH MY OWN BELIEFS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS AND THE OUTDOORS REINFORCED.”
— Ogdensburg Borough School District, NJ
“USING ‘HIKING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL’ AS A METAPHOR FOR MINDFULNESS IS BRILLIANT. IT SHOWS HOW MINDFULNESS CAN HELP US IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.”
— West Milford Township School District, NJ
“I REALLY ENJOYED LISTENING TO RYAN. HE HAS A VERY CALMING WAY ABOUT HIM. I LOVED LISTENING TO HIS STORY AND HEARING HOW IMPORTANT MINDFULNESS CAN BE. I WAS INSPIRED BY RYAN AND STARTED PRACTICING YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND HAVE COMMITTED TO DOING THIS EVERY DAY. WELL DONE!”
— Ogdensburg Borough School District, NJ
“GREAT PRESENTATION, WITH A GREAT MESSAGE. TOO OFTEN WE DON'T ‘TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES'. THIS IS A REMINDER THAT THERE ARE SOME AMAZING THINGS ALWAYS HAPPENING AROUND US AND WE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO OUR SURROUNDINGS, INSIDE AND OUT.”
— Denville Township School District, NJ
“HANDS DOWN, ONE OF MY FAVORITE STAFF MEETINGS OF ALL TIME.”
— Unity Charter School, NJ
“RYAN’S WORKSHOP DID A FANTASTIC JOB SHOWING US HOW MINDFULNESS CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR LIVES BY UTILIZING HIS PERSONAL JOURNEY TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT WE CAN ALL MAKE WITHIN OURSELVES. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIS PROGRAM.”
— West Milford Township School District, NJ
“THIS WORKSHOP WAS A VERY WELCOME RESPITE IN MY DAY; FOLLOWING THE GUIDED MEDITATIONS RESULTED IN A TRUE FEELING OF CALM. I HAVE DONE OTHER MINDFULNESS WORK, AND THIS WAS A GREAT REMINDER TO KEEP PRACTICING.”
— Unity Charter School, NJ
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2024 READERS' FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER
2023 ROYAL DRAGONFLY BOOK AWARD WINNER
B.R.A.G. MEDALLION AWARD WINNER
AMAZON BESTSELLER
"An inspirational tale of transformation."— Independent Book Review
Purchase on Amazon (paid link)
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A student of life, Ryan has studied one-on-one with a former Buddhist monk on his journey to becoming a certified Mindfulness Teacher, he completed his 200-hour yoga teacher training with the American Yoga Academy, and he studied with the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy, the most experienced global leader in Forest Therapy guide training, to become a certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide, more commonly known as Forest Bathing, the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku. He also holds a Life Coach certification through Health Coach Institute, accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF), the only globally recognized, independent credentialing program for coach practitioners, via their CCE program (Continuing Coach Education). The ICF is a non-profit, professional organization. Its mission is to build, support and preserve the integrity of the coaching profession.
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PODCAST INTERVIEWS:
FAR OUT: Adventures in Returning Home - Episode #67 - Stepping sideways: a trail guide to finding your path with Ryan Benz - Listen on Apple Podcasts
The MindFit Method Podcast: E82: Permission to WANDER: 2000 Miles of Re-Discovery with Ryan Benz - Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify
ARTICLES:
NJspots - From New Jersey to Nature: Ryan Benz’s Transformative Journey Along the Appalachian Trail - Read
Northjersey.com - An Emotional Journey on the Appalachian Trail - Read
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