life explored Photo by Penny Tranchilla
Nature and Forest Therapy Wander into Wellness
F
orest bathing is gaining popularity worldwide for the health benefits it provides. Fear not! It’s accessible to everyone and doesn’t involve nudity or a bathtub in the middle of the woods. Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese practice of “forest bathing,” began in the 1980s as the tech boom sky rocketed, which was paralleled by a staggering rise in physical and mental illness. Forest bathing was employed as a form of Japanese healing medicine and preventative health care. Although our practice is inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, this form of forest therapy refers to spending time in nature in a way that invites healing for both us, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. Scientific studies have proven that spending time in nature deeply enhances wellness, creativity and happiness. In fact, many trees produce organic compounds called phytoncides, a natural defense against disease and parasites. Humans reap the rewards when they breathe in these compounds which boost our natural killer (NK) cells, helping to fight diseases like cancer. The practice of nature and forest therapy emphasizes the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in a forest or natural environment. Nature and forest therapy walks are a wonderful form of self-care for all ages. With the help of a guide certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, guests are led through a series of invitations during a leisurely walk on a gentle trail or pathway. Walks typically last two to three hours and participants have the opportunity to slow down, be present and engage their many senses. The group gathers for council discussions after each invitation, a way of learning from and teaching each other while discussing this shared experience. Walks culminate in a tea ceremony, another element of sharing and community-building. “After the walk, I felt calm, peaceful, less busy in my mind, like I had released some self-induced pressure,” says Stuart native, Elena Nolden, after a forest therapy walk. “I have a lot of self-expectations and I felt released from that.” It’s amazing what nature reveals when we give ourselves permission to slow down, quiet our minds and awaken our senses. To learn more, wander with us on @naturalwanders.us, and on @natural_wanders, or visit NaturalWanders.us.
Written by KELLY BRUCE, FOUNDER & GUIDE, NATURAL WANDERS Photography by REILLY KOONTZ
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January-February 2019
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