Forest & Nature Therapy immersion walks with Kelly Hutchison, ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide.
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) on Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island and the Gulf Islands of 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
Experience Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island’s natural beauty while deepening the connection with yourself and nature. The practice of Forest Therapy is an “immersion” into the space of trees, plants and beings of the forest. It is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which means to “bathe in the atmosphere of the forest." This term 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 the positive benefits of spending time in nature and discovered that if practiced regularly, forest bathing can decrease stress, boost immunity, heighten mood, enhance creativity, improve sleep and promote overall peace and calmness in daily life.

I offer walks in the Greater Victoria area.  Every guided walk includes a series of unique sensory invitations that help you to slow down, immerse yourself in the natural world and connect with yourself. Walks are generally 1 km or less in length, and between two and half to three hours. We move slowly and mindfully, making the practice of forest therapy accessible to people of all fitness levels, ages and abilities.

My husband (Dave Hutchison Photography) and I have combined our mutual love of nature, and together offer forest therapy walks and photo tours in various remote locations in the Sooke to Port Renfrew West Coast Corridor, on Vancouver Island.  If you would like to experience some of British Columbia's oldest forests and trees, reach out to us! Perfect for nature enthusiasts, nature photographers, or those just wanting to have photo memories of their time in nature!
New Book! 
The practice of forest therapy has brought so much personal healing into my life.  Mindfully spending time in nature, connecting to my surroundings and myself, ignited my creativity. Four years ago I started painting again and last year I began the journey to write my first book—alongside of my talented husband nature and wildlife photographer Dave Hutchison. We are so proud of our upcoming hard-cover book (224 pages), Vancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape.
​Available for pre-order now and in all bookstores by mid February.
​
​“Not merely a collection of photographs, this book is a love letter, a tribute, to a place that has given us so much.”

Benefits of Regular Forest Therapy Walks

  • Decrease stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels
  • Boost the immune system by increasing natural killer cells
  • Heighten mood and enhance creativity
  • Improve sleep and increase energy levels​
  • Feel a greater sense of peace and calm
  • Deepen connection with yourself, others and the natural world

​Spending quiet thoughtful time in the forest feels like coming home to a peaceful place inside of 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—it's about slowing down while 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 you will be offered a series of “invitations." You are then invited to do what feels comfortable. A Forest Therapy guide holds the space for a deepening of connection, within yourself and with nature.​


​"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." 
​
​~Dr. Qing Li, The Japanese Art and Science of Shinrin-Yoku: Forest Bathing, how trees can help you find health and happiness.