Forest Therapy involves slowly walking through a forest, taking in the atmosphere through all your senses, and enjoying the benefits that come from such an excursion. Also known as "forest bathing" or "Shinrin-yoku" in Japanese, is a practice that involves immersing oneself in a forest environment, actively engaging all senses to deeply connect with nature, aiming to promote mental and physical well-being through a mindful and slow-paced experience guided by a trained leader; essentially, it's a conscious and contemplative way of being present in the forest, taking in the sights, sounds, smells, and textures around you to reduce stress and improve overall health.
Key points about Forest Therapy:
ORIGIN: This practice originated in Japan in the 1980s as a response to rising stress levels in urban populations.
FOCUS ON SENSES: Unlike a typical hike, forest therapy encourages participants to actively notice and appreciate all sensory aspects of the forest, like the smell of pine needles, the sound of birdsong, and the feel of tree bark.
GUIDED EXPERIENCE: A trained forest therapy guide leads sessions, providing prompts and invitations to help individuals fully engage with their surroundings.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS: Research suggests forest therapy can help reduce stress, improve mood, boost the immune system, enhance focus, and promote feelings of relaxation and connection to nature.
Companion - Communion with Nature E-Journal
As we walk slowly through the forest, seeing, listening, smelling, tasting and touching, we bring our rhythms into step with nature.”- Dr Qing Li
