What is Forest Therapy?
Forest Therapy, or Shinrin-yoku, is also known as Forest Bathing
Forest Bathing is a sensory journey that invites you to immerse yourself in the heart of nature. It’s about seeing the vibrant colors of leaves, feeling the texture of the forest floor beneath your feet, listening to the gentle rustling of leaves and birdsong, and breathing in the earthy, fresh scents of the woods. This full, sensory experience deepens and restores our connection with the natural world, awakening a sense of peace and wonder that’s often forgotten in the rush of daily life.
Shinrin-yoku, or Forest Bathing, is deeply rooted in traditional Japanese culture, where harmony with nature has long been a path to wellness and spiritual balance. Embraced as a healing practice, shinrin-yoku reflects Japan’s reverence for the natural world, drawing on centuries-old beliefs that nature holds restorative powers for the mind, body, and soul. It’s a gentle, mindful way to reconnect with the essence of the forest, promoting health and tranquility through the simple act of immersing oneself in nature.
In the 1980s, Japan recognized the toll that urban life and relentless work habits were taking on its people, with rising suicide rates and stress-related illnesses becoming a national concern. In response, Japan introduced Shinrin-yoku, or Forest Bathing, as a national health policy. This practice acknowledged that urbanization had pulled people away from nature, leading to a profound disconnection from the natural world. By encouraging people to step back into the peaceful embrace of the forest, Japan found a powerful way to restore well-being, reduce stress, and reconnect individuals with the calming, healing presence of nature.
Reintroducing nature into urban culture, through the practice of Shinrin-yoku successfully reduced stress-related diseases in Japan. This practice aligns with other nature experts including biologist Edward O. Wilson's 1984 theory of biophilia, which suggests that humans have an innate connection to nature, having evolved with it for millions of years. The term "biophilia" means "love of life or living systems."
Why Forest (Bathing) Therapy?
In our urban lives, we often spend too much time indoors, sitting, glued to screens, and leading sedentary lifestyles. The fast pace of city living, along with the effects of pandemics and social isolation, can significantly raise our stress levels.
Chronic stress can lead to serious health issues like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, inflammation, and mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Forest Therapy offers a natural remedy—time spent in nature helps us feel calm, relaxed, contented and revitalized, countering the negative health effects of our stressful urban environments and daily challenges.
A Forest Therapy experience, helps to rekindle an ancient bond we hold with nature. This experience helps to strengthen our connection with nature and forms the basis of our wellbeing. The intention of Forest Therapy is to ‘bridge the gap between us and the natural world’ revealing we are not separate to nature, but make up a part of nature as a whole.
A forest therapy session reminds us of the importance of our relationship with the natural world and maintaining this connection is vital for our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Health Benefits
Forest Therapy offers powerful mental and physical health benefits. Scientific research shows that even a single Forest Therapy walk can immediately improve your body’s stress and wellness markers. These changes have a direct and positive impact on your overall well-being, helping you feel revitalized and balanced.
Direct Benefits of Forest Therapy Walks
Anxiety and depression levels are lowered
Positive mood improvement in happiness levels
Reduction in heart rate and blood pressure
Reduced cortisol levels indicating a reduction in our
stress hormone levels
Improved immune function as Natural Killer cells increase
in volume (anti-tumour)
Exposure to phytoncides which possess anti-bacterial,
anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-viral properties
Indirect Benefits of Forest Therapy Walks
Reduced risk of heart and lung diseases
Reduced risk of obesity
Faster recovery from illness or surgery
Weight management assistance
Increased overall fitness levels
Less likelihood of feeling stress in typical day to day situations
Better and more regular sleep
Enhanced ability to concentrate
Increased energy levels
Higher self-confidence and more emotional stability
Regular Forest Therapy to accumulate therapeutic benefits
Forest Therapy reveals nature's incredible ability to heal and rejuvenate us. It can lift our mood, ease our stresses, and restore our vitality. By immersing ourselves in nature, we nurture our mind, body, and spirit, returning to our lives with renewed energy and a deep sense of peace.
Why choose a Forest Therapy Guide?
In our fast-paced world, it can be challenging to slow down and fully immerse ourselves in nature. A Forest Therapy guide helps you do just that—shifting your focus from the constant chatter of the mind to the calming rhythms of the body, allowing you to move in harmony with the natural world.
Walking with a trained Forest Therapy guide offers a sense of safety and security, making it easier to relax and let go. As your guide, I handle all the details, so you can simply be present, savoring the experience of nature’s healing embrace. It’s a chance to truly disconnect from the rush of everyday life and reconnect with yourself and the world around you.
What Does a Forest Therapy Guide Do?
As a Forest Therapy Guide, I help you connect deeply with nature in a way that resonates with you. Our walk begins slowly and intentionally, on a carefully chosen trail designed to align our biorhythms with the natural world. Along the way, you’ll be invited to engage in a blend of creative, physical, and sensory activities, all inspired by the environment around us. These activities encourage you to be open, curious, and fully present in nature.
I work in partnership with nature, as a guide who opens the door to this healing experience. The forest itself is the true therapist. By slowing down and immersing ourselves in nature, we allow its calming influence to reset our minds and bodies, helping us find balance and peace.
