Forest Therapy Guiding
But why does one need a guide and a group of people for this?
Often in nature, we’re not that deeply present – we can be having conversations with others, or with ourselves in our head.
Forest therapy invites us to unplug and slow down. It helps us return to our bodies, root into the present moment, and experience being alive in a deeply visceral way.
Nature may be our greatest healer. When we slow down and awaken all of our senses, we attune not only to the natural world around us, but also to ourselves — and in that connection, profound healing can unfold.
What is “Forest Therapy”?
When a friend first told me about Forest Therapy Guiding, I thought it sounded enchanting. What I thought but didn’t say was “Why would you ever need a guide to do this?”
Forest Therapy is based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku (translated as Forest Bathing) – created in the 1980s in response to the national health crisis of “modern disease” as the tech boom drew people from rural villages into larger cities.
Studies showed dramatic positive results on heart rate variability, cholesterol levels, and cancer cells from just an hour or two in the forest.
Most importantly, Forest Bathing helps us to reconnect with our heart - our true nature.
There is a felt sense of belonging.
It resets our nervous system, and brings us into calm coherency, where we’re able to tune-in to our higher wisdom and the aligned intelligence of the natural world.
A guide helps us tune-in to liminal space where we can hear our own wisdom and experience a deeper sense of belonging in the world.
A guide holds time and space so we’re free to wander with a care-free wonder – something rare in our world. We can watch fractal patterns of light, soak in healing shades of green, and in this deeply relaxing space, we tune back into our true rhythm and soul.
A guide holds space for community – while participants each have their own individual experience, there is space and time to share with no pressure whatsoever to do so. Sometimes, being seen and heard in this way is one of the greatest gifts of the experience. It can be transformational.
I lead forest bathing experiences for small groups and larger institutions. Some of my clients include Boston University, BornGlobal Foundation, Sippican LandsTrust, and government groups.
Please contact me if you’re interested in a forest bathing experience for your group!
Kind Words
“Diane created a wonderful experience for me and my work colleagues. None of us had done forest bathing before, and I really appreciated Diane’s welcoming and informative approach. It was a great experience for all of us with benefits that I’m still (six months later) still feeling. Not only did it help me reconsider and refocus my interaction with the environment around me, but it was also a great way for me to spend time with my colleagues outside of the office.”
“I wanted to follow up on the forest therapy experience a couple weeks ago to thank you. I appreciate your time and energy. I went into it very unsure of what to expect and I really enjoyed the experience so much. It has taught me to take little moments here and there to slow down and notice what is around me. Thank you.”
“I had the great privilege of being guided by Diane along the Muddy River on a rainy spring morning and felt totally whisked away into the whimsical world of moss and flowering trees. Despite being in an urban environment surrounded by the frenetic sounds and busyness and city life, Diane has a way of creating magic and meaning. She brings great care and creativity to her offerings. Diane is a truly skillful and intuitive guide, deeply connected to the Earth and I can’t wait to go on a guided forest therapy walk with her again! ”