Forest Bathing
(Shinrin-Yoku/ mindfulness in nature)
Forest bathing is about slowing down and being mindful in a forest setting.
Forest bathing originated in Japan in the 1980s- developed to help city dwellers deal with the stresses of modern life. Forest bathing is a translation of the Japanese ‘Shinrin- Yoku’- think soaking up the atmosphere of the forest rather than an actual bath! It draws on ancient Shinto and Buddhist philosophies and practices, particularly the Shinto belief in the sacred spirit (kami) present in natural places and the Buddhist emphasis on mindful presence and interconnectedness with all living things. There are also many examples of practices connecting connection with nature with wellbeing around the world- from Celtic, to Islamic, to indigenous cultures in Latin America.
Forest bathing sessions invite participants to slow down and fully immerse themselves in a woodland environment- focusing deeply using the different senses to engage with the forest. The guide offers a series of invitations to prompt participants to connect with nature in different ways, often inspiring people to focus on and notice things that would usually pass them by.
I have personally found this really helpful. As a generally pretty scatterbrained person, I find a lot of meditation and mindfulness practices quite hard to engage with. And while I’ve always loved getting out into nature, to be honest quite often I’ll be striding along, chatting and / or thinking about random stuff and not paying that much attention to what’s around me. While Shinrin-Yoku practices are very simple, I’ve found them quite transformative in helping me engage more deeply and get out of that hectic headspace, and I really enjoy sharing this with other people.
As well as my personal experience, there has been a lot of research into the impact of Shinrin-Yoku on improving overall psychological wellbeing and reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, particularly in Japan where the government funds forest research centres. Shinrin-Yoku also helps participants to look differently at the natural world, and inspires a feeling of reciprocity- wishing to give back to nature as well as benefiting from it.
Forest bathing can be great for…
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Charities and community groups
Forest bathing offers unique benefits for both the communities you serve and your organisation's staff and volunteer wellbeing and development.
For people experiencing social isolation, mental health challenges, or barriers to accessing nature, it provides a gentle, inclusive way to experience the proven benefits of time in green spaces. Sessions require no special equipment or fitness level, and I can work with you to address specific barriers like mobility issues.
For your team, forest bathing offers a chance to step away from demanding charity work, reconnecting in peaceful natural settings. Whether for team away days, staff wellbeing, or facilitated workshops for reflection and planning, it creates ideal conditions for clear thinking and collaboration.
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Corporates
Forest bathing offers a refreshing alternative to traditional corporate wellness and development programmes. For employee wellbeing, it provides a research backed way to reduce stress, boost creativity, and improve mental wellbeing through immersive time in nature. It helps teams disconnect from digital overwhelm and reconnect with themselves and colleagues in a peaceful setting.
As a tool in facilitated workshops, forest bathing creates ideal conditions for strategic planning, ideation, and team reflection. The slower pace and mindful awareness naturally foster fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. Many organisations find that combining forest bathing with structured discussion time leads to breakthrough insights and stronger team dynamics away from the usual office environment.
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Festivals, retreats and events
Forest bathing adds a grounding, restorative element to festivals, retreats and other events, offering organisers an authentic way to incorporate nature connection into their programme.
In the midst of busy festival schedules, it offers a chance to slow down and connect deeply with nature through guided mindful practices. The sessions provide a peaceful counterbalance to high-energy activities, helping participants process their experiences and get ready to party again. For wellbeing retreats, forest bathing complements other healing modalities and personal growth activities. The practice requires minimal setup and no special equipment. It works beautifully in woodland settings, even a small wooded space can be enough to give participants the feeling of getting away from it all.
“Helen led a wonderful forest-bathing session for our team of 15. It was a unique and grounding way for us to spend time together outdoors, with just the right amount of structure. For most of us, it was our first time trying forest bathing, and Helen guided us through the experience with care and gentleness. It offered a meaningful way to slow down, connect with our surroundings, and share the experience as a team.”
Rae Patel, Agile Collective
FAQs
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I find shinrin-yoku makes it way easier to get into a mindful state than a lot of other meditation techniques etc I’ve tried. Everyone is different and this may not be for you, but there is a lot of evidence for the benefits of it so why not give it a go?
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Yes, you totally can and I encourage people who do sessions with me to find ways to practice on their own. However, I’ve found it really helpful to do guided sessions and have had lots of feedback from people who have joined my sessions that they find being part of a session with other people and guided invitations makes a big difference to getting in the zone.
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Hmmm, I know it’s much easier to feel like getting into nature when it’s sunny and warm. But Shinrin-Yoku can be great for gently helping us look at ‘miserable’ weather differently- listening to the sound of rain on leaves, noticing the feeling of wind on our cheeks, seeing how mysterious forests look in the mist… If it’s dangerously windy I cancel, but in other ‘miserable’ weather it can all be part of the experience.
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Get in touch and I’d love to talk about how to make Shinrin-Yoku work for you. I don’t have all the answers but I honestly believe nature connection can be beneficial for a wide range of people, and I’d love to work with people who face barriers to getting into nature to collaboratively figure out how to design sessions that will work for them.
