Forest Bathing
“The moment one gives close attention to something, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, indescribably magnificent world in itself.”
— Henry Miller
You carry a forest inside of you.
The trees and forests are your partners.
They welcome you and recognize your inner forest.
The teachings of the trees cannot be categorized as “science”, rather, their lessons are like stories, arising from the same dreamscape as myths.
Forest bathing is a practice where the healing of people and forests happens together.
The medicine that brings healing is in the relationship.
Forest Bathing
Forest Bathing is an art of stillness and a practice of remembering.
It is simply being in nature. Through our sensual experience of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch, forest bathing bridges the gap between us and the natural world. Sensory becomes sensual; sensual becomes intimate.
It is to remember that we are not separate from nature; that as humans, we don’t just see nature’s power and beauty from the outside, we are of it.
森林浴
Forest bathing is not the same thing as hiking.
The destination in forest bathing is here, not there.
The aim is not movement, but embodiment.
Forest bathing is also not meditation, which emphasizes equanimity. In contrast, forest bathing particularly welcomes pleasures and delights.
This is an open-ended experience; there is no prescription for what you”should” experience, or what benefits you “should” receive. Instead, it is a practice of a deepening relationship of reciprocity between you and the natural world.
The Benefits
- Increase relaxation
- Get better sleep
- Assist attention restoration
- Increase self-worth and confidence
- Find calm, creativity, and clarity
- Boost immune system
- Speed up recovery
- Alleviate respiratory issues like allergies
- Improve Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
- Reset and restore nervous systems
- Reduce the severity of depression, anxiety and other mood disorders
- Increase feelings of gratitude, wonder and unity
We make sense of how we experience the world by weaving our inner and outer realities together into narratives. These narratives are our stories.
Stories, unlike facts, allow multiple truths to coexist.
Most of us are used to the Tamed World story.
In the Tamed World story, we strive for control and power – we attempt to protect and limit our suffering from the dark and the chaotic, through discriminating hierarchies of value and linear systems of meaning.
It is the dominating story of our world today, but however dominant, it is not the only story.
And, there is the space in between.
The threshold.
There is also The Wild World Story.
In this story, we enjoy the unpredictable, and beautifully chaotic world, as we are unpredictable, beautiful beings ourselves.
We realize the heart holds profound wisdom that the mind cannot understand and that there exists a more-than-human world. Our innate nature urges us to constantly change and evolve.
There is no safety, but creation.
And, there is the space in between.
The threshold.
Forest bathing is an invitation to stand on the threshold in between the two worlds.
Why go with a Guide?
I wholeheartedly encourage you to spend time in nature on your own. However, if you’ve never experienced a guided forest bathing walk, you might not realize the difference – how supportive, transformational, and healing such an experience can be.
A guide creates and holds a safe container to share and bear witness to your authentic connection with the forest. During the walk, the guide facilitates sensory expansion and the art of bodyfulness, inviting you to slow down, expand your awareness, and become self-directed in cultivating your relationship with the natural world.
Some Tips
- Leave your devices behind
- Slow down
- Allow yourself to be guided by the forest itself
- Have a child’s mind
- Embrace playfulness and curiosity
- Listen, receive, and be open
- Observe without judgment or analysis
- Experience the forest as a friend, a partner
- Focus on sensory experiences rather than thoughts
- Minimize efforts to achieve anything
- Let each walk be its own experience
Join Me Remotely
- From a green space in an urban setting to a safe wilderness area, your porch or backyard to a living room with a house plant, any setting will do nicely
- Inform people where you are going if you plan to go out into nature by yourself
- Plan 2 to 3 hours of uninterrupted time
- Bring a charged device and backup battery
- Bring headphones or listen through the speaker
- Be prepared for the weather conditions
- Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes
- Bring water or a warm beverage
- Bring a lightweight sit-pad for comfortable seating
- Bring sunscreen and bug spray
Hi, my name is Zoe.
I’m a certified forest bathing guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.
You can join me in one of my walks IRL or follow one of my recorded virtual walks.
I am here to accompany and support you on your journey.