Fall Equinox Forest Bathing with Sage & Paul — September 22

Join our nature and forest therapy guide in this two-hour program that encourages you to slow down and take in the National Arboretum through all your senses. Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the simple practice of taking in the woods through the senses for health benefits. The benefits are immense: boosted immunity, lowered blood pressure and heart rate, improved attention and mood, and hitting the reset button on life. The Japanese have enjoyed shinrin yoku for decades as a regular public health initiative.

Our forest bathing walks consist of three ‘invitations’. Each time the guide will prompt you to reflect on a particular aspect of the natural world around you, give you time to wander and meditate throughout the garden collection, then reconvene the group to share reflections. While some people choose to walk extensively during this ‘forest bathing walk’, many others choose to sit and get to know specific areas of the collection. Each forest bathing walk will end with a modified tea ceremony — we will have small pre-packaged snacks to close the walk.

NOTE: The two guides will split the group into two smaller groups for this walk.

Please pay what you can to attend this event. Our suggested ticket price is $35 (or $28 if you are a FONA member). This covers what we pay our guide to lead this experience, the snacks we provide participants, and the cost of our staff to organize these events.

However, if paying $35 would prohibit you from attending this event, please pay what you can. We believe a connection to the land fosters the mental, physical, and spiritual wellness of individuals, communities, and the planet. We want to provide a quality event that facilitates this connection, but we also believe all members of our community should have access to this event.

If you are able to pay more than the suggested ticket price, the difference will go towards covering the cost of those in our community who can’t.

Once purchased, you will receive more information on how to prepare for the event. We choose where we will hold the walk based on seasonality in the Arboretum. We'll reach out 1-2 days before the event with final details of the walk's location.

No pets or children under 16 for this experience.

Weather Cancellations: Forest bathing walks are held in many weather conditions, including light rain or snow. If the FONA cancels the walk due to unsafe conditions or threat of inclement weather, you will be notified by email at least 6 hours before the walk and offered a certificate to attend a walk at a later date.

Low Registration Cancellations: FONA reserves the right to cancel a walk if fewer than 16 people register. In the event of a cancellation due to low participant registration, you will receive a certificate to attend a walk at a later date.

Refund Policy: Full refunds are provided for refund requests received up to 3 days prior to the program date.

Host or Publisher Friends of the National Arboretum