Forest Therapy Walks
What the heck is forest therapy?
It is easier to explain what forest therapy is, if we start with what it isn’t! Forest therapy is not a hike, nor a long walk or any kind of strenuous exercise. The guides are not psychologists, and do not prescribe or offer opinions.
A forest therapy walk entails a series of invitations where guide and participants explore their relationship with nature. Over the course of a 2 - 3 hour forest therapy walk, we may or may not travel 500m in distance. Here, the forest is the therapist, and the guide, is just a guide.
Where did forest therapy come from?
Forest Bathing, or Shin Rin Yoku originated in Japan in the 1980’s during a health crisis. This crisis was due to industry development and overwork where Japan saw a major increase in sickness all over the country. so they sought out what to do about it. Out of that came a series of studies about the effects on nature on people and the findings were astonishing. In one particular study they found that phytoncides, a chemical released by tress to protect themselves, actually boosted the natural killer cells in human. The cells (NK), are the fighter cells that kill cancerous, weak, and diseased cells in out bodies. What this meant was that when people walked amongst the trees, they were being showered in these chemicals that literally were helping us fight off sickness. This is how forest bathing was created. If you’re wondering why there are two terms, forest therapy, and forest bathing, that is because they are slightly different. Whereas forest bathing is solely focused on health, forest therapy not only includes health, but also relationship with nature.
Why go on a forest walk?
In addition to boosting our natural killer cells, spend time in nature helps to lower stress and cortisol levels, boost the immune system, improves attention and memory, regulates blood pressure (yes, helping it go up or down!), improve mood, and increases energy.
Relationship to nature also helps to bring us into the present moment, help us to feel grounded, helps to improve our relationship with self and others, and increase patience and gratitude.
