Shinrin-Yoku - Forest Bathing

                What is Forest Therapy or Forest Bathing?

Forest therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku or forest bathing. Shinrin-Yoku can be loosely translated to “taking in the medicine of the forest” . 
Forest Bathing was established as a practice in Japan in the 1980s as a direct response to declining forests and declining health in the population. 
The positive impact of spending time in nature is not a new concept that has been known about and studied worldwide for decades.  Research shows that people who practice Forest Bathing experience relief from anxiety and depression, a deeper sense of mental relaxation, better sleep, and an increased feeling of gratitude and overall sense of well-being.  

To learn more about the amazing effects of forest bathing on the body go here:
               

               What to expect during a guided walk? 

Forest bathing is a guided nature immersion, a slow meander in the forest.  A certified guide offers a sequence of carefully crafted gentle invitations to enable participants to slow down and experience the natural world through their senses.  
A Forest Bathing walk is not about "getting anywhere" or  
about naming and identifying , it is about connecting deeply with the more than human world and ultimately with the deeper place within.


Interested in learning more about The Association for Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) or becoming a guide?  Go here: