What is Forest Bathing?

Forest bathing is the practice of slowing down, tuning in, and allowing the natural world to soothe the nervous system, slow your body down and restore your soul. It was formally introduced in Japan in 1982 by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries as a public health and nature-connection initiative. Shinrin-yoku is designed to reduce stress and burnout thanks to the grounding benefits of nature, particularly the forest. We practice in the Kuitpo Forest, in Meadows, South Australia. The essence of this art is not about hiking, exercising or swimming. It is all about presence, being in the present moment. In my forest bathing workshops, we move slowly, pause often, and notice what’s happening around and within us, with our senses. We lean into quiet curiosity: touching bark, taking deep breaths, listening to birdsong and the wind dancing in the trees. You are guided into sensory invitations: smell, sight, touch, sound, breath, and emotional reconnection. Expect slowness, simplicity, contemplation and silence. Expect gentleness and maybe also surprising emotions, because nature mirrors what lies within. Expect to leave grounded, softer, clearer, and more alive.