Forest Bathing Therapy
Picture yourself in the middle of the forest, feel the soil in your fingers, hear the leaves and the birds, feel the wind, and breathe. Mother nature is always talking; if you listen carefully, a message awaits.
Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing therapy, was born in Japan as a practice to improve health and happiness, a way to calm your mind from the daily noises and reconnect with your inner self.
Forest bathing is like taking a nature bath with the five senses, allowing yourself to observe the colors, the water, and the smells and embrace what is happening around you in the present.
It is a beautiful way to leave behind the worries, the routines, and the things that make you navigate life automatically without energy or motivation.
The forest bathing is a walk of not more than 600 meters, seated and relaxing for about 2 and 1/2 hours. It follows the facilitator’s suggestions, who would make simple sensorial invitations to interact and connect with the natural environment.
Everything in the forest is alive and constantly vibrating; when you connect with what is happening, your senses will bring you back to the present.
This is a beautiful opportunity to rest from your busy mind and meaningless thoughts, stop the noise inside, and listen to your body and heart.
Do you need a guide?
Do it with a certified forest therapist because you will get the most out of the experience; the facilitator will teach you how to be one with Mother Nature, which would be your link with the forest.
Even the most expert hiker will discover a new way to be in the forest; with the proper guide, the perspective will change by observing everything around you.
The process includes an introduction, an inspiration to use your senses to feel your body and your emotions, an invitation to share your thoughts with others if you feel like it, a practice to slow down, and an excellent time to share tea and snacks in the forest.
The facilitator is not a therapist and won’t have answers to your questions, but he will help you to listen to your inner voice by connecting with Mother Nature.
Who can benefit from the forest bathing?
Anybody looking to lower their daily life speed would appreciate this practice, but also people with stress, anxiety, depression, fears, or addictive personalities.
Any person will gain something from this practice; visiting the forest, touching the trees, seeing the light, or hearing the birds from your heart will be a fantastic new experience. It is a simple way to be present and consciously look inside yourself.