Forest bathing is the English translation of the Japanese “shinrin-yoku.” It’s a practice of slowing down and mindfully experiencing nature with all your senses. It was developed in 1982 by the Japanese government as a preventative healthcare initiative in response to high rates of stress and depression.
Now shinrin-yoku is practiced all over the world — including here! Here are some offerings around the Twin Cities to get you started on your forest bathing journey.
Motz Studios
David M. Motzenbecker was a landscape architect for over twenty years before starting Motz Studios Forest Bathing Experiences. Now he leads guided forest experiences throughout the metro, including November and December sessions at the arboretum.
During walks, Motzenbecker notices people’s shoulders drop, and their body postures relax. “A calm washes over them, and they open up. It's amazing,” he says. Those interested in learning more can read one of the many articles he’s penned, sign up for his Forest Philosopher Substack, or join a walk. “Walking is a practice like yoga, or meditation, or playing the piano,” Motzenbecker says. “The more you do it, the better you get, and the more you get out of it.”
Want to avoid the Halloween chaos and enjoy autumn? Motz Studios is hosting a forest bathing walk at Long Lake on Halloween at 9 a.m.
Silverwood Park
Want to try forest bathing right now? Last week, a friend and I went to Silverwood Park’s designated forest bathing trail. It’s just a quarter-mile and includes periodic signage with instructions on how to engage your senses more deeply. One example is a sign that says “Listen to a Tree,” which invites you to find a tree you’re drawn to, sit or stand near it undisturbed, then listen to your heartbeat once there. The signs include suggested amounts of time to spend in a particular spot. I plan on going back!
One of the stops on Silverwood Park’s designated shinrin-yoku trail. (Roseanne Pereira / City Cast Twin Cities)
Wild Wanders Forest Therapy Walks
When Mel Schneider first heard of forest bathing, she admits she laughed it off because she already spent time outdoors. But years later, her perspective shifted. “Guiding groups in forest bathing sessions truly feeds my soul,” she says. “Connecting people to themselves, each other, and especially the more-than-human world is why I do this work.”
Through Wild Wanders, she’s led college student groups, birthday celebration groups, and even a book club. She remembers a walk where a NICU worker said she wished this experience could be offered to every family with a baby in the NICU.
Their annual donation-based “gratitude” walk will be on Saturday, Nov. 28, 1-3 p.m. at Reservoir Woods Park in Roseville.
Silvae Spiritus
I first experienced forest bathing through Silvae Spiritus, which hosts guided walks at Dodge Nature Center in the warmer months, typically around the full moon. At the session’s close, my group sat in a circle, reconnecting with snacks and tea. Silvae Spiritus also regularly offers private forest bathing walks on their 30 acres in Finlayson (about 90 minutes north of the cities), as well as retreats centered around a forest therapy modality.
Nourished Through Nature
Kristen Mastel of Nourished Through Nature often starts her forest bathing sessions by asking participants to rate their stress level on a scale of 1 to 10. At the end of the walk, “many participants report a significant reduction in stress after just one to two hours,” she says. Mastel leads forest bathing sessions through Caponi Art Park, as well as programs through community education, grief support groups, and retreat centers. She also leads “Forest Bathing with Dogs” as private one-on-one or small-group experiences. Email her at hello@kristenmastel.com to set these up.
There are even more ways to immerse yourself in forest bathing. Search the directory of the Association of Nature and Forest Therapies to find a guide near you.
