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)
All images are copyright protected by Dave Hutchison Photography. For image use requests please contact Dave through his website.
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
(Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Courtenay-Comox)
All images are copyright protected by Dave Hutchison Photography. For image use requests please contact Dave through his website.
About Forest & Nature Therapy
What is Forest Therapy?
Forest Therapy is a gentle, guided practice of slowing down and connecting with nature through your senses. It is rooted in the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing, which translates to “bathing in the atmosphere of the forest.” Guided Forest Therapy walks invite you to step away from the busyness of daily life and into the healing presence of the natural world.
Unlike a hike or nature walk focused on destination or plant identification, forest therapy is about being, not doing. Slowing down and immersing yourself into the living world of trees, plants, moss, sky and beings of the forest. By tuning into your senses—sights, sounds, textures, scents and the rhythm of your breath—you begin to restore your natural state of balance and calm.
Forest bathing originated in Japan in the 1980s as a response to rising levels of stress and chronic conditions. Since then, it has been extensively studied and shown to offer a wide range of health benefits, including:
Many people describe forest bathing as a return to something ancient and familiar—a sense of homecoming to the quiet, peaceful place within. It’s an invitation to remember that we are not separate from nature, but a part of it.
On a guided Forest Therapy walk, you will be gently led through a series of nature-based invitations designed to open your senses, awaken presence, and support a deeper connection with the land and yourself. Walks are slow-paced and typically less than 1 km, making the practice accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels.
Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, nourish your creativity, or simply spend quiet, meaningful time outdoors, Forest Therapy offers a beautiful path inward, through the wonder of the forest.
Forest Therapy is a gentle, guided practice of slowing down and connecting with nature through your senses. It is rooted in the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing, which translates to “bathing in the atmosphere of the forest.” Guided Forest Therapy walks invite you to step away from the busyness of daily life and into the healing presence of the natural world.
Unlike a hike or nature walk focused on destination or plant identification, forest therapy is about being, not doing. Slowing down and immersing yourself into the living world of trees, plants, moss, sky and beings of the forest. By tuning into your senses—sights, sounds, textures, scents and the rhythm of your breath—you begin to restore your natural state of balance and calm.
Forest bathing originated in Japan in the 1980s as a response to rising levels of stress and chronic conditions. Since then, it has been extensively studied and shown to offer a wide range of health benefits, including:
- Lowering stress and anxiety by reducing cortisol levels
- Strengthening the immune system
- Improving sleep and boosting energy
- Enhancing creativity and focus
- Supporting emotional clarity and overall well-being
- Deepening your connection to yourself, others, and the natural world
Many people describe forest bathing as a return to something ancient and familiar—a sense of homecoming to the quiet, peaceful place within. It’s an invitation to remember that we are not separate from nature, but a part of it.
On a guided Forest Therapy walk, you will be gently led through a series of nature-based invitations designed to open your senses, awaken presence, and support a deeper connection with the land and yourself. Walks are slow-paced and typically less than 1 km, making the practice accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels.
Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, nourish your creativity, or simply spend quiet, meaningful time outdoors, Forest Therapy offers a beautiful path inward, through the wonder of the forest.
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Introduction to Forest Therapy
Amos Clifford, Founder of ANFT |
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Forest bathing "is not exercise, or hiking, or jogging. It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our sense of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Indoors we tend to use only two senses, our eyes and our ears. Outside is where we can smell the flowers, taste the fresh air, look at the changing colours of the trees, hear the birds singing and feel the breeze on our skin. And when we open up our senses, we begin to connect with the natural world."
~Dr. Qing Li, The Japanese Art and Science of Shinrin-Yoku: Forest Bathing, how trees can help you find health and happiness.
~Dr. Qing Li, The Japanese Art and Science of Shinrin-Yoku: Forest Bathing, how trees can help you find health and happiness.
"Forest bathing opens the doors of our senses and fully engages us with the healing powers of nature."
― M. Amos Clifford, founder ANFT
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Early morning, Cattle Point, Victoria, BC Photo: Kelly Hutchison.
I would like to honour and acknowledge that Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands is the traditional land
and unceded territory of the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations peoples.
I am grateful to live, work and play in this beautiful place.
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All photographs are the sole property of Kelly Hutchison 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.salishseaforesttherapy.ca
Copyright ©2025
Copyright ©2025