Forest Therapy

Forest Therapy is a guided, sensory-based practice that helps people slow down, reconnect with place, and come back to themselves. Rooted in the tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, or forest bathing, it is not about hiking fast or covering distance. It is about noticing, breathing, and experiencing the living world in a more present way.

In a guided session, simple invitations help participants move at the pace of attention instead of the pace of modern life. Many people leave feeling calmer, clearer, and more grounded.

A small group of people on a forest trail, performing a forest therapy & bathing exercise

This is one reason the practice can feel especially supportive right now. In a world shaped by alerts, speed, and fractured attention, forest therapy creates time to settle, observe, and simply be.

Benefits & Outcomes

Attention Restoration

Natural settings help tired attention recover. Many people feel less mentally scattered and more able to focus after a session.

Stress Reduction

Forest therapy supports a slower pace, softer breathing, and a shift away from constant pressure and stimulation.

Mood Support

Participants often notice a greater sense of ease, steadiness, and emotional spaciousness during and after the walk.

Creativity & Clarity

When the mind has room to rest, fresh insight, reflection, and creative thinking can return more naturally.

Rooted in the Birthplace of Shinrin-Yoku

Wendy’s Forest Therapy work is shaped not only by certification and training, but by direct experience with the roots of Shinrin-yoku in Japan. In this Hiking Research article, Wendy reflects on traveling with ANFT guides to Akasawa Natural Recreation Forest, the birthplace of Shinrin-yoku, and how that experience deepened her understanding of place, ritual, hospitality, and relationship with the land.
Read Wendy’s Reflection on Hiking Research
Rooted in the Birthplace of Shinrin-Yoku
Read Wendy’s Reflection

What to Expect During a Session

  • Arrive and Settle

    We begin by arriving slowly, getting oriented to the place, and setting a tone of ease. This helps people shift out of rush mode before the walk begins.

  • Gentle Invitations

    Throughout the experience, Wendy offers simple sensory invitations. These are not tasks to complete. They are open prompts that help participants notice what they see, hear, feel, and experience.

  • Slow Walk & Pauses

    The pace is unhurried. There are pauses for observation, reflection, and quiet connection with the land. Forest therapy is about being somewhere, not getting somewhere.

  • Optional Sharing

    Participants may be invited to share brief reflections. Sharing is always simple and low-pressure.

05. Tea & Integration

Many sessions close with tea and a gentle transition back into the rest of the day. This helps people carry the experience forward with a little more intention.

What to Bring
  • Layers for changing temperatures
  • Water
  • Comfortable closed-toe walking shoes
  • Optional lightweight blanket or portable chair
Why Nature Helps
Natural settings support what researchers call attention restoration. Instead of demanding constant effort, they offer the mind a softer kind of engagement. This can help reduce mental fatigue, improve clarity, and support more creative thinking.
Time in nature is also associated with lower stress markers, better mood, and stronger nervous system regulation. Forest therapy builds on those benefits through guided, mindful immersion.
Session Details
  • Typical length: 1.5 to 3 hours
  • Pace: slow and accessible
  • Focus: sensory awareness, presence, and restoration
  • Setting: forests, trails, retreat properties, and other nature-rich environments throughout California

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Common Questions

Not quite. Forest therapy is slower and more guided. The goal is not distance or exertion. The goal is presence, sensory awareness, and connection with place.

No. This practice is welcoming to beginners and designed to be accessible in plain language.

That is okay. You do not need to know anything special to participate. Curiosity is enough.

That depends on conditions and location. Light weather can still be part of the experience, while unsafe conditions may require rescheduling or a different format.

Wear layers and comfortable shoes suitable for a slow walk outdoors.

Most sessions run about 1.5 to 3 hours.

Still have questions? Reach out and we will be happy to help.