Have you heard of “Forest Bathing”? It turns out that spending quality time in the forest, breathing in the phytoncides - the volatile organic compounds released into the air by plants, has amazing health benefits. Forest Bathing, known as shinrin yoku, in Japan has been extensively studied and the health benefits are undeniable. An hour or two in the forest has been known to lower blood pressure, increase immunity, and elevate moods among many other benefits. Forest Medicine is powerful and accessible to everyone.
I have been forest bathing my entire life. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest I’ve grown up wandering through the forests of the Pacific Northwest. I worked for years as a wildlife biologist which took me into the tropical forests of Central America, the Coastal Forests of the Pacific Northwest, and up to the Boreal Forests of Alaska. I have a deep appreciation for the intelligence and beauty of nature.
I am a certified yoga teacher and have been guiding people in the practice of yoga for over ten years. Yoga helps us connect to our breath, or bodies, and the present moment. The physical movement and breathing excercises help us tune into our senses inside and out- connecting our mind and body with nature and allowing us to feel and experience how we are connected to all of life. The yoga we do in the forest will be gentle and calming allowing our bodies and minds to slow down and absorb the healing energy of the forest.
We will begin our forest bathing experience at the edge of the forest. We will walk along a trail that allows us to see the trees, pants, birds, and wildlife from a distance. We get a sense of the shapes, textures, colors, and anatomy of the trees. After 10 - 15 minutes of walking and observing the forest from the edge, we go into the heart of the forest where we experience and feel the energy of the forest. We notice the roots, the trunks with different textured bark, and we look up to the canopy overhead. We linger along the way and take time to breathe and perhaps open up our bodies with yoga. After 10 - 15 minutes we come to a creek where we meditate on the sound of water.
Join me for a Forest Bathing Session* or find a forest near your home or a place you visit regularly. Quiet your thoughts and open you senses. Walking the same path over and over we become familiar how nature changes throughout the seasons. I encourage you to forest bath as often as possible throughout the year.
I have been forest bathing my entire life. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest I’ve grown up wandering through the forests of the Pacific Northwest. I worked for years as a wildlife biologist which took me into the tropical forests of Central America, the Coastal Forests of the Pacific Northwest, and up to the Boreal Forests of Alaska. I have a deep appreciation for the intelligence and beauty of nature.
I am a certified yoga teacher and have been guiding people in the practice of yoga for over ten years. Yoga helps us connect to our breath, or bodies, and the present moment. The physical movement and breathing excercises help us tune into our senses inside and out- connecting our mind and body with nature and allowing us to feel and experience how we are connected to all of life. The yoga we do in the forest will be gentle and calming allowing our bodies and minds to slow down and absorb the healing energy of the forest.
We will begin our forest bathing experience at the edge of the forest. We will walk along a trail that allows us to see the trees, pants, birds, and wildlife from a distance. We get a sense of the shapes, textures, colors, and anatomy of the trees. After 10 - 15 minutes of walking and observing the forest from the edge, we go into the heart of the forest where we experience and feel the energy of the forest. We notice the roots, the trunks with different textured bark, and we look up to the canopy overhead. We linger along the way and take time to breathe and perhaps open up our bodies with yoga. After 10 - 15 minutes we come to a creek where we meditate on the sound of water.
Join me for a Forest Bathing Session* or find a forest near your home or a place you visit regularly. Quiet your thoughts and open you senses. Walking the same path over and over we become familiar how nature changes throughout the seasons. I encourage you to forest bath as often as possible throughout the year.
What's the difference between Forest Bathing and just going on a walk? Often when we go for a walk, either alone or with friends, our thoughts wander to a variety of different topics. This is fine, but different than Forest Bathing. When we are Forest Bathing we stay present and listen. If we speak, it is about our experience, what we see, smell, hear, taste, and feel. We stop and look, listen, feel the earth beneath us, practice yoga, and breathing exercises to open up our senses. We meditate, both guided and silent, and feel our connection to our environment. We are part of everything around us.
* 1 hour Forest Bathing Session with Inga:
$100 for up to 6 people. Contact Inga to book a session.
* 1 hour Forest Bathing Session with Inga:
$100 for up to 6 people. Contact Inga to book a session.