What is Forest Therapy?
Forest Therapy is a practice that supports health and wellness through guided immersion in
forests and other environments to promote the well-being of both people and the land. It is inspired
by Shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of “Forest Bathing.” In Forest Bathing, people spend time in
forested areas to enhance health, wellness, and happiness.

In Forest Therapy, people are guided through a clearly defined sequence of invitations to slow
down, allow the senses to open, and experience the environment to deepen the reciprocal
relationship between participants and the forest. This supports the wholeness and well-being of
both. These Slow Walks in the Forest are typically .5 to 1.5 miles long and fit for all ages
and physical conditions.

Invitations are open-ended. There is no expectation for what participants should experience or
receive. Rather, participants spend time in silence, listening and feeling with a quiet and accepting
presence. They become reconnected with their senses and their innate creative potential is tapped,
which allows the imagination to awaken.

Why Forest Therapy?
Forest Therapy promotes:

• The improvement of human health. People are more stressed, anxious, and depressed and
  have more chronic health conditions. Forest Therapy provides a pathway for people to
  remember how to immerse themselves in nature to rest from all that consumes them in
  their daily lives.
• A greater sense of connectedness. Jacques Cousteau once said, “People protect what they
  love.” A heartfelt, embodied relationship with nature naturally leads to a love of nature and
  recognition that we are nature.
• A greater sense of compassion. Somatic work with the Earth and our bodies provides
  participants the opportunity to remember the nature of relationship and the way we are all
  connected. The sense of connectedness leads toward compassion and away from apathy,
  greed, and selfishness. This deeper compassion supports the kind of relational values that
  will support new solutions for the health of people and the planet.

Interested in hearing more about forest walks? Here’s a podcast link to my interview.

https://www.spreaker.com/user/stephencarter/forest-therapy-for-inner-peace-with-cher