What is Forest Bathing / Shinrin-yoku?

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better".

Albert Einstein

Nature as Healer, Teacher, and Mirror

I’ve always been drawn to the magic and wonder of trees. There’s a quiet wisdom they hold, rooted deep into the earth, gracefully letting go of their leaves and surrendering to the cycles of the seasons. They ground us. They guide us.

I often speak with trees, sit with them, and listen to them. In their stillness, they remind me of truths I’ve forgotten. So it felt completely natural to be called to the practice of Forest Bathing, or Shinrin Yoku, a gentle, restorative way of reconnecting with nature through the senses. I began my Diploma in Forest Bathing with the International Society of Nature & Forest Medicine in 2019.

What is Shinrin Yoku?

Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing" was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine.

Shinrin Yoku is an evidence-based approach to encouraging people to engage with the natural world – particularly trees, and demonstrating through clinical testing and research the physical and immunological benefits of contact with Nature.

This is not exercise, hiking, or jogging. It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Shinrin-yoku is like a bridge. By opening our senses, it bridges the gap between us and the natural world.

The scientifically-proven benefits of Shinrin-yoku include:

Boosted immune system functioning, with an increase in the count of the body's Natural Killer (NK) cells.
Reduced blood pressure
Reduced stress
Improved mood
Increased ability to focus, even in children with ADHD
Accelerated recovery from surgery or illness
Increased energy level
Improved sleep

In our Forest Bathing sessions, we weave together the science of Shinrin Yoku with mindfulness, creative reflection, and nature connection rituals, helping you come home to yourself, through the living world around you.

Let nature hold you, teach you, and inspire you.
Come and try it for yourself.

Watch a short film by the World Economic Forum on what Japanese “Forest Bathing” is and how it can improve your health.