Forest Bathing
With its roots in Japan, the practice of forest bathing, known in Japanese as shinrin-yoku (“shinrin” meaning "forest" and yoku meaning "bath"), provides an avenue for reconnecting with nature and ourselves. In a world where stress, overwhelm and anxiety run rampant, spending time in nature allows us to relax, slow down, pause and attune to the slower rhythms of the natural world. These natural rhythms help us to align with our physical and emotional health and well-being.
Over the last decade, studies by biologists and social scientists suggest that spending time in nature has numerous benefits including: lowering our blood pressure, reducing depression, stress levels, anxiety, and boosting our immune system, creativity, joy and compassion. As the scientific case for the health benefits of forest bathing solidifies — in the not too distant future— perhaps a wider range of health care providers will likely allow more doctors to prescribe spending time in nature for improving their patients’ health, instead of prescribing medications for anti-anxiety and depression. Nature heals and rejuvenates us.
As a forest bathing guide, I take a group of participants on a walk lasting approximately 2 hours in a natural setting such as a meadow, forest, or coastal area. The “bathing” aspect involves being immersed or “bathed” with our senses in healing powers of nature. This walk is not an interpretive nature walk, nor is it a hike; and it doesn’t have a specific destination in mind. Instead, it’s an experiential way to practice awareness by staying in the present moment.
The objective of the forest bathing walk is to notice what you experience in the present moment using your five senses — namely, what you see, hear, taste, smell and touch. I suggest exercises or invitations that encourage you to explore nature in the present moment using your five senses. These invitations will help you to discover how slowing down benefits your health by reducing your stress and promoting greater awareness, belonging, joy, creativity and compassion.
Forest Bathing Participant Testimonials
“This experience should not be missed by anyone. It will help you to connect to yourself and others and to nature. Andrés does a beautiful job in illuminating the connection between self, community and nature, and the power of this connection for well-being.”
-College of Marin participant
“I would say the experience is filled with deepened connections to nature and humankind. Many memories surfaced, with hopes and dreams clarified for my family, daughter, students and me.” -College of Marin participant
“It was surprising that such a relatively large group could quickly and easily form a caring community. This was Andres’s guidance and support that made this possible.” -
College of Marin participant
“It was all nurturing and restorative, but the highlight was the sense of communication with nature — that it was a two-way relationship. I experienced nature and it experienced me.”
-College of Marin participant
“For me it was a perfect outing. I loved the pace, the prompts, and having someone guide me and open my mind to new ways of being in nature.” -College of Marin participant
“This experience was wonderful! Many forget that we need to find time to connect with nature, slow our thoughts, and be thankful of the world around us. This experience allowed me to do that in a stage of my life where crazy is the only constant. So thank you.”
-College of Marin participant
“Do it. You won’t regret it. Life affirming” -College of Marin participant
Poem from a Forest Bathing participant
Letting Go
By EB
Walking into Old Mill Park,
following clusters of Redwoods growing tall
from ancient roots, leading to a shaded bench,
with each step, daily life fades: irritants,
confusion, speed, fear, hate, all let go,
replaced by this environment of Nature
Within the clustered trees, a wide space,
somewhat like a bright stage,
flanked by dark walls of the theater,
discloses a performance under way. A chorus line
of Bay trees, sway in unison
to a melody of the breeze; and look,
a solo performer, a sun-lit leaf, waltzing
from tree top down along a dark tree trunk,
bowing to our applause. Suddenly,
a gust of wind kicks up
a cloud of dust, lighted instantly
by a ray of sun, then gone!
Perhaps, symbolic of our life.
Below my feet lie centuries of earth’s
Evolution. Tree roots meet and talk,
Do they speak to us? I love
That being in this ancient landscape
Is my world of comfort.
