Forest Bathing: How to Rejuvenate Heart and Soul

Stepping into the forest is more than a walk – it’s a practice of presence, compassion, and renewal. Known as shinrin-yoku, forest bathing invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and awaken your senses to the healing energy of trees.

In this beginner’s guide, you’ll discover how immersing yourself in nature nurtures kindness toward yourself and others, unlocking fresh insights that enrich both your personal life and your coaching practice.

Let’s embark on a journey where each leaf, breeze, and birdcall becomes a catalyst for deeper empathy and connection.

Get In Touch with Nature and Rejuvenate Your Soul

You may have read about “Grounding” (also known as “Earthing”). Earthing is about doing things that bring you in direct contact with, well, the earth. Things like walking barefoot, gardening, etc.

Who doesn’t love walking barefoot on the beach and getting their hands dirty in soil, right?

Many believe contact with the earth is good for our health. Most researchers have concluded it has to do with electrical charges emitted from the earth’s surface. As a result, earthing helps improve our immune response, soothes inflammation and even lessens our perception of pain.

What is Forest Bathing?

Forest bathing is another way we can enjoy Mother Nature’s environment and be healthier and feel better at the same time. And no, there is no soap or water involved!

It’s not enough to just be near trees. Forest bathing (also known as forest therapy) involves meditating, or just being still with our thoughts in a forest or near a group of trees.

The more we can focus on the sounds, smells, and sights within the forest, the more effective forest bathing becomes.

Just sitting on a log near a wooded path for 10 minutes or so can be enough to soak up some forest bathing goodness.

Results of Forest Bathing

The results of forest bathing may include lower blood pressure and cortisol levels, improved wound healing and immune response, just to name a few.

Forest bathing has also been found to reduce the incidence of depression and helps to ease anxiety.

There are also potentially benefits to children with autism.

Just taking a slow stroll through the woods and communing with nature are beneficial.

But there are also ways to take forest bathing to an entirely different level.

In fact, there are trained, certified guides who can help you experience forest therapy to its fullest.

One association has over 600 guides who are trained or in the process of becoming certified.

These forest guides include people from all walks of life, including but not limited to medical doctors, therapists and coaches.

The History of Forest Bathing

Forest bathing is not new. It’s based on a practice developed in Japan in the 1980s known as shinrin-yoku.

It’s about taking in the full experience of the forest. Being present enough to experience the fullness of all our senses: the sights, sounds, textures, smells.

Some researchers believe the benefits are in part due to substances emitted by trees and plants, but the findings are not conclusive.

Trained guides can help maximize the experience, but forest bathing is something we can all enjoy on our own, too.

So why not spend some time among the trees today?

How to Gear Up for Forest Bathing

For anyone stepping into the practice of forest bathing, these boots are a surprisingly light yet rugged companion:

Columbia Women’s Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Amped Hiking Boot: The seam-sealed waterproof leather and suede upper keeps puddles at bay, so no soggy socks! The break-in period is minimal, letting you tune into the forest’s scents and sounds without pinching or blisters.

If your goal is to slow down, tune into nature’s details, and let the forest calm your mind, these boots provide the right mix of stability and comfort.

They’re especially well-suited for anyone new to wooded trails or anyone seeking waterproof, low-maintenance footwear that doesn’t compromise on grip. Slip them on, step into the canopy’s hush, and let the earth’s texture guide you inward.

A Beginner’s Guide to Forest Bathing

As you lace up your hiking boots and step onto a sunlit trail, remember that forest bathing isn’t just a walk. It’s an invitation to reconnect with your truest self.

Let the gentle crunch of leaves underfoot and the dappled light through the canopy remind you of the kindness you deserve and the compassion you can share.

Breathe deeply with each stride and allow nature’s wisdom to seep into your everyday life.

Make this simple ritual your own: pack a small backpack, put on those sturdy boots, and give forest bathing a try. You might find the next spark of insight waiting just around the bend!

Additional Mindfulness Resources

To learn more about another mindfulness practice to enhance your inner calm, see Stargazing: How to Discover the Benefits Hidden in the Heavens.

If you’re looking for more variety, we’ve got you covered. You’ll find a roundup of selected mindfulness practices, including recommendations for how to get started in each in Mindfulness for Beginners: The Best Mindfulness Tools and Resources.

Thank you as always for reading.

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Joan Senio is the founder of Kindness-Compassion-and-Coaching.com.  Joan’s career includes clinical healthcare plus 20+ years as an executive in a nationwide health care system and 15 years as a consultant. The common threads throughout Joan’s personal and professional life are a commitment to non-profit organizations, mental health, compassionate coaching, professional development and servant leadership. She is a certified Neuroscience Coach, member of the International Organization of Life Coaches, serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is also a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me. You can read more about Joan here: Joan Senio.