Forest & Nature Therapy immersion walks with Kelly Kiss, ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide.
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) on Salt Spring Island, the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island, BC.

All images are copyright protected by Dave Hutchison Photography.  For image use requests please contact Dave through his website.
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." ~John Muir
I had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed by Margaret Gallagher of North by Northwest on CBC Radio. We went for a walk in the woods at Pacific Spirit Park and talked about forest therapy.  Click here, or on the image for a link to the replay. 
Experience Salt Spring and Vancouver Island’s natural beauty while deepening your connection with yourself and nature. The practice of Forest Therapy is an “immersion” into the space of trees, plants and the beings of the forest and is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku.  Shinrin-Yoku means to “bathe in the atmosphere of the forest” and is a term that was originally used by the Japanese government in the 1980”s, "to describe the practice of spending time in the woods to soak up its health benefits”. The Japanese have thoroughly researched and discovered many positive health benefits of spending time in nature.   Research shows that if practiced regularly, forest bathing can decrease stress, boost immunity, heighten mood, enhance creativity, improve sleep, and promote overall peace and calmness in your daily life.

Each walk includes a series of unique invitations that help you to connect with your senses and become deeply immersed in your surroundings.  Walks move slowly over a gentle landscape and are usually 1 km or less in length and between two and half and three hours - thus making the practice of forest therapy accessible to people of all fitness levels, ages, and abilities.

Kelly offers private and group guided forest bathing experiences. Perfect for wellness and work retreats, quality time with a partner, friends, or family! 
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Benefits of regular Forest Therapy Walks:
  • Decreases stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels.
  • Boosts the immune system by increasing natural killer cells.
  • Heightens mood and enhances creativity.
  • Improves sleep and increases energy levels.​
  • Helps you to feel a greater sense of peace and calm.
  • Deepens your connection with yourself, others and the natural world around you.

​Spending quiet, thoughtful time in the forest feels in many ways, like coming home to a peaceful place inside your heart. The practice of forest bathing is a mindful “immersion” into the space of trees, plants and the beings of the forest. It's not about getting to a place, rather it's about slowing down, and using your senses to mindfully notice and connect with the natural world, and yourself.

Look, touch, feel, smell, listen and taste.  What are you noticing?  

During a guided walk, I will offer you a series of “invitations” to help you to do this. You are then invited to do what feels comfortable to you. As a guide, I merely hold the space for the deepening and connection to happen. 

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"We all know how good being in nature can make us feel.  We have known it for millennia.  The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air --these things give us a sense of comfort. 
They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. 
Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us." 
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​~Dr. Qing Li, The Japanese Art and Science of Shinrin-Yoku: Forest Bathing, how trees can help you find health and happiness.