Therapeutic Forest Walks: Mindfulness at Marshall Mountain

Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku , forest bathing encourages our bodies and minds to slow down, disconnect from the stressors of our modern lives, and deepen our relationship with the natural world (including ourselves and other humans). In doing so, we open the door to the healing properties of forests.

Since the 1980s, a great deal of research has indicated that guided forest bathing/forest therapy experiences can offer a broad spectrum of health benefits to humans, including (but by no means limited to):

• strengthened immune system
• lower blood pressure
• reduced stress
• improved mood
• restored ability to focus, even in people with ADHD
• accelerated recovery from surgery or illness
• increased energy levels
• improved sleep

Through sharing this experience, we also fight back against isolation and loneliness, two of the greatest modern threats to our emotional wellbeing.

Expect to have some fun, share stories along the way, and enjoy a cup of forest tea with snacks at the end of each walk.

We will not be hiking but move slowly and spend time in selected spots along the way, covering a distance of about one mile. We will encounter some uneven terrain, as well as mild up and downhill sections given Marshall Mountain's history as a local ski hill.

With this in mind, please dress appropriately. Bring sunscreen and/or layers for sun protection as needed. You'll be invited to sit at times, so you're welcome to bring along something to sit on like a blanket, towel, or foam pad and I will have some extras. Please also bring water for the duration of our 3 hours together.

Sylke is a Forest Therapy Guide, certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Guides are not a therapists and these walks are not intended as therapy; however, the practice itself can be considered therapeutic. The guide helps open the door to the healing properties of nature.

Host or Publisher Sylke Laine