On forest bathing
Lucy Edge explains this mindful ecotherapy practice
Forest Bathing is an immersive experience that allows you to fully connect with the natural world and embrace its profound healing qualities. By actively engaging in a mindful ecotherapy practice, you can sense and absorb the elemental wisdom of nature.
Imagine stepping into a sphere where time decelerates, and the buzz of modern life fades into the backdrop, replaced by whispering leaves and singing birds. It’s a place where (hopefully) the sun sieves through the lush canopy, casting a mottled pattern of light on the woodland floor, and damp earth and verdant greenery scent the air. The constant chatter of your mind quietens, soothed by the restful sounds of nature. The forest welcomes you like an old friend returning after a long absence.
Forest bathing can mean different things to different people. Some people enjoy forest bathing for its therapeutic properties, as it allows them to inhale the phytoncides released by trees, which - studies have proven - boost our immune systems. Others long for the solitude and tranquility only a dense forest can provide. Either way, it’s an opportunity to disconnect from the digital world, to be genuinely present and engage with the tactile and sensory wonders surrounding you.
Unlike a casual stroll in the woods, forest bathing is often a guided experience led by experts who encourage mindful practices and sensory engagement. This structured guidance helps you go beyond simple observation to form a deeper, more interactive relationship with the forest around you. Expect a tranquil yet structured experience, where the guide will often introduce a series of “invitations” - suggestions designed to help you engage more intimately with the natural surroundings. These suggestions might involve exercises such as feeling the textures of leaves, listening attentively to forest sounds, or even lying on the ground to get a different perspective of the sky through the canopy of trees.
It’s a chance to experience the pure joy of exploration. Straying from the well-trodden path, you never know what surprises await. You might stumble upon a moss-clad log teeming with tiny life forms, a sudden clearing where sunlight warms the woodland floor, or a brook flowing over stones smoothed by time. Every forest bath becomes a treasure hunt, a voyage of discovery into the heart of the wild.
The concept of forest bathing can be traced back to 1980s Japan, when the government introduced a public health programme to encourage people to spend more time in nature for its therapeutic benefits. Shinrin-yoku, which translates as “forest bathing,” became the centrepiece of this programme. It aimed to promote relaxation, reduce stress and improve overall well-being through immersion in the forest environment.
Since then, forest bathing has gained recognition worldwide and has become popular for those seeking a connection with nature and its healing powers. It has also become a feature of some retreats, when immersion in nature helps to nurture mental wellbeing and ground participants in the present moment, a process often enhanced by complementary practices such as mindfulness, yoga, and breathwork.
The proven benefits of forest bathing are manifold. Beyond its calming influence on the mind, it can reduce stress levels, enhance mood, increase vitality, and improve sleep quality. But to many, the forest is also a wise teacher. It teaches patience as you observe a caterpillar slowly making its way across a leaf. It shows you resilience through the unwavering strength of trees firmly rooted in the earth. It reveals the cycle of life and the interconnectedness of all things.
As you return home, you carry these lessons with you. The forest has heightened your senses, calmed your spirit, and bestowed upon you a sense of serenity. The memory of the forest bath continues to nourish you, even when you find yourself back in the concrete jungle.
What about you? Have you ever ventured into the forest, not just for a stroll, but to immerse yourself, to bathe in its beauty? If not, I invite you to try. Next time you find yourself near a woodland, step inside. Take a deep breath, shut your eyes, and listen. You might be surprised by what you find.
Explore RETREATS with forest bathing
Some delicious retreats use forest bathing as a tool to ground you. Engage in breathwork under a tree canopy with Walking Your Promise or understand tree biology at Dartington Trust in England, reset your compass with Autumn Harvest at Alikats in France, or combine yoga with forest bathing at Vale de Moses in Portugal.
