Guided Forest Bathing Walks (Shinrin-Yoku) on Salt Spring Island & Vancouver Island, BC with Kelly Kiss

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.

Sit Spot at Botany Bay, Port Renfrew, March 2023

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." ~John Muir

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!

Kelly and professional wildlife and nature photographer Dave Hutchison, together offer forest bathing experiences and photo tours in various remote locations in the the Sooke to Port Renfrew West Coast Corridor on Vancouver Island. Experience some of British Columbia's oldest forests and trees! Perfect for nature enthusiasts, nature photographers, or those just wanting to have photo memories of their time in nature! To learn more click on the button below.

Learn More About Nature Photo Tours & Forest Therapy in old growth forests on Vancouver Island

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.

Learn More About Forest Therapy

Latest Blog Post: Sit Spot With My Dogs

"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.

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What participants Are Saying

"The experience was unbelievably rich and deep. I easily dropped deeply into presence and maintained that state throughout. So life affirming. The guide Kelly was so kind and steady and fully embodied the love and appreciation of
nature and our connectedness."

"Find the time! It is worth the investment to understand how you can benefit from listening and smelling the forest!"

"I think everyone would benefit to experience the calming effect of a
forest therapy walk."

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Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park. Located on the Southwest coast of Vancouver Island, B.C.
Experience some of British Columbia's oldest and most beautiful trees.

I would like to acknowledge the land where I am living ~the unceded territory and ancestors of the Coast Salish Peoples of Salt Spring Island and surrounding areas who continue to use and steward the lands and waters of the Salish Sea. These include the traditional land of the local Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group (Cowichan, Halalt, Lyackson, Cowichan Lake, Penelakut), and Saanich First Nations
(Tsartlip, Tseycum, and Tswaout).

All photographs are the sole property of Kelly Kiss and/or Dave Hutchison Photography (where noted) and are held under copyright. The images and contents of this website may not be copied, collected, or used for personal or professional gain without express written permission from Salish Sea Nature Connections, www.salishseanatureconnections.ca.
Copyright ©2023.