Forest & Nature Therapy immersion walks with Kelly Kiss & Peter Hehl, ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guides. Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) on Salt Spring Island, the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island, BC. Come walk with us...
**Group walks outdoors (of up to 10 people) are permitted with physical distancing. We also offer walks to private groups, couples and families. As Forest Therapy is practiced outdoors, it is a “Covid-safe” wellness activity, and helps to strengthen ones own immune system. Please contact us if interested.
Forest therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing. 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 improve your health, wellness and happiness!
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, we 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 guides, we merely hold the space for the deepening and connection to happen.
To learn more about what to expect on a Forest Therapy walk, click here.
"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.
To schedule a one-on-one, family, couple, or private group walks, on Salt Spring Island, the Gulf Islands or Vancouver Island, please contact us. Or see upcoming scheduled walks.
