Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku): origins and benefits

Where Forest Bathing began

Forest Bathing, or Shinrin-Yoku, originated in Japan in the 1980s as a public health practice. The name translates loosely as "bathing in the atmosphere of the forest" — a slow, sensory immersion in ancient woodland rather than a walk with a destination in mind.

It is not exercise, and it is not a guided walk. It is a practice of being with the trees: noticing, breathing, softening, allowing the pace of the wood to meet the pace of the body.

The research

Research from Japan, South Korea, Thailand and the UK (including the University of Derby in partnership with The Forest Bathing Institute, and City, University of London) continues to show just how beneficial spending time within ancient woodland can be for our physical, mental and emotional health. Documented benefits include:

• Lowered blood pressure
• Increased natural killer (NK) blood cells, which help the body fight disease including cancer
• Improved sleep
• Lifted symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Reduced stress and cortisol levels
• Improved general wellbeing

What a session with me looks like

I offer two-hour sessions of mindful connection with nature. Most sessions take place in the woods around Box, with other locations across Wiltshire and BANES as they open up. I can also come to private settings for private groups who would like to experience the benefits of Forest Bathing together — a family, a workplace, a circle of friends.

Each session unfolds gently through a series of sensory invitations. There is nothing to achieve and nothing to get right — only the wood, the breath, and the quiet noticing of what is here.

Forest Bathing sessions are launching soon. Please get in touch if you would like to be among the first to know when dates are released.