Forest & Nature Therapy walks with Kelly Hutchison,  ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide.
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
(Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Courtenay-Comox)
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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
Forest Therapy Guide | Nature-Based Wellness on Vancouver Island
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Slow down. Breathe deeply. Reconnect.
Join me on beautiful Vancouver Island for a journey into the heart of nature—and into yourself. Through the practice of Forest Therapy, inspired by the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku or “forest bathing,” you will be gently guided to awaken your senses, ground your energy and experience the healing presence of Mother Nature.

Forest and Nature Therapy is an invitation into yourself and your connection with nature.

A mindful, unhurried walk of about 1 km, lasting 2.5 to 3 hours, where each step opens the door to stillness and restoration. Through a series of nature-based sensory invitations, you will deepen your connection to the land, its beings and the quiet wisdom within you. The practice is welcoming to all fitness levels, ages and abilities.

Being in the forest feels like returning home—not just to a place, but to a quieter space within your own heart.
Forest Therapy is not about distance or destination. It's about slowing down, awakening your senses and gently noticing what is around, and within you. Through touch, sound, scent, sight, and even taste, you begin to attune to the living world.

During a guided walk, you will be offered a series of gentle, open-ended invitations, ways to explore nature with curiosity. There is no right or wrong way to participate. As your guide, I simply hold space for your connection to deepen—with the forest, and with yourself.

Come walk with me and experience the healing power of forest therapy...
Why Forest Therapy?
Spending intentional time in nature isn’t just calming—it is scientifically proven to nourish body, mind and spirit.

Benefits of forest therapy may include:
  • Reduced stress and anxiety through lowered cortisol levels
  • Strengthened immune system by boosting natural killer cells
  • Brighter mood, enhanced creativity and clearer focus
  • Better sleep and increased energy
  • A deep sense of calm, presence and inner peace
  • Greater connection to yourself, to others, and to the Earth
New Book! 
Forest therapy rekindled my creative spirit. Immersing myself in nature brought me back to painting and eventually, to writing. In collaboration with my husband, photographer Dave Hutchison, we brought our shared vision to life in our first book: Vancouver Island: The Art of the Landscape—a 224-page hardcover coffee table book celebrating the beauty of this land through art, photography and love.
Available in your local book store and with free shipping in Canada, through Amazon Prime.
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​“Not merely a collection of photographs, this book is a love letter, a tribute, to a place that has given us so much.”

​Now 33 weeks on the BC Bestseller list!


​"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.