While many people know the benefits of being in nature, forest therapy goes a step further than simply walking through a forest.
The practice of “forest bathing” began in Japan in the 1980s, when the country began to transition from a pastoral culture to a technological one.
It is described as a therapeutic relaxation process that immerses people in a natural environment and encourages them to engage their senses and connect with nature.
“They coined the term ‘forest bathing,’ which means immersing yourself in the forest atmosphere through your senses,” says Rona Schneberger, owner of Forest Fix in Canmore and forest bathing trainer with the Nature and Forest Therapy Association.
Schneeberger said: The health benefits of forest bathingsome of which are the studyThis includes the benefits of inhaling aromatic compounds called phytoncides that are released by plants.
“Spending time in nature helps lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. It helps balance blood pressure and lowers your heart rate. It can also reset your nervous system,” she said.
“Our body, mind and soul are realigned to their natural state of peace and tranquility.”
CTV News accompanied Schneberger as he led a small group in the Canmore woods.
Participants were asked to tune into their senses in different ways, such as lying down or sitting still and observing what was moving in the forest or listening to the birds or the wind.
“People are rushing to relax just to shake off the road dust, which helps them settle in,” she said.
“It really helps switch people from a stressed state to a calm state.”
– Forest bathing is a therapeutic relaxation practice or process that involves spending time in a forest or natural environment. Simi Latulipe took part in the practice and said forest bathing helped her reset and reconnect with the land.
“Just being quieter and being a little more careful when you’re walking, being a little more careful when you’re listening and watching.
“It’s a place where you can give thanks to the land. It’s a place of peace for the soul.”
She understands people may be skeptical, but is confident that one forest bathing experience will change that.
“You have to try it. When you try it, it changes you. When you try it, it’s going to be an ‘aha moment.'”
Schneeberger has been giving guided tours for years and said the initiative has become more popular since the pandemic began, especially as doctors began prescribing time outdoors for their patients.
“COVID has made us all want to get outside. We all know that being in nature is good for us. This special experience of going into nature and being led by a guide gives you a little bit more than doing it on your own, because as a guide, I’m taking you through a process that you may or may not have experienced.”
Dr. Susan Lee McEnany is a holistic family physician in Calgary who recommends forest bathing to her patients.
“A lot of my patients say they love nature and get out a lot, but I tell them, ‘This is a little bit different, this is a little bit more,'” she said.
“One of the things that was certainly important to me as a physician and in recommending this to my patients is that there is really good scientific evidence, really good evidence, that it works.”
Schneeberger has worked with a wide range of clients, from individuals in Alberta to exhausted CEOs and corporate groups from as far away as the UK.
“It helps people recover and when they come together they can be calm, collected and less stressed,” she said.
“I’ve had groups ask me to do this before longer leadership programs and it helps to create team bonding and also helps when going into difficult discussions afterwards. It’s really effective because participants feel more relaxed.”
Morgan Craig Broadwith, a Calgary-based HR leader and chief wellness officer and owner of Live Active, says he encourages forest bathing for both employees and employers.
“I think (this) is of great value to anyone, especially in a workplace where there are increasing tensions,” she said.
“If you actually give yourself space and time and protect yourself from all the distractions and stimuli, amazing things can happen.
“Giving your workspace the space to do this gives you time to be creative, and I believe creativity and rest lead to new ideas, innovations and insights.”
Schneeberger said there are benefits to having a supervised practice, but people can also practice on their own in their own backyard.
“It seems really simple, and it is, but it works,” she said.
“Honestly, I think this is the easiest mental health solution and the easiest thing you can do.”
To find a guide in your area, visit the Canadian Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.
