Forest Bathing – What It is, What to Expect, and Why It Matters in a Busy World
Written by Sarah Frustié, Ecotherapist, Forest Guide, Nature Retreat Facilitator and Holistic Counselor
Sarah Frustié is an ecotherapist, forest guide, nature retreat facilitator, and holistic counselor working between Australia and France. Through nature-based practices, she supports people in caring professions navigate burnout, ease chronic stress, and reconnect with the Earth.
In this crazy, fast-paced, and often overwhelming world, my offering to you is simple, slow down. Step into the forest. Mindfully. Deeply paying attention to every detail. A leaf dancing in the wind. A small rock beneath your foot. The feeling of fresh air on your skin. The scent of pine needles. The texture of bark beneath your fingertips. A bird moving through the canopy above.
Forest bathing invites us to slow down enough to notice what is already here. It is an opportunity to reconnect with ourselves, with our inner peace, and with Mother Earth. This mindful practice of being in nature, especially in the forest, is known as Shinrin-Yoku, or Forest Bathing.
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. While Indigenous peoples around the world have been practicing deep connection with the land since the dawn of time, Shinrin Yoku was the first government-supported, evidence-based approach encouraging people to spend mindful time in nature. Shinrin Yoku is designed to reduce stress and burnout thanks to the grounding benefits of nature, particularly the forest.
Forest bathing is for everyone. It does not have to be held in a forest. It can be experienced outdoors, including forests, beaches, city parks, and local gardens, and indoors in hospitals, at home, or with indoor plants.
What to expect?
Forest bathing, or as I like to call it, a Sacred Forest Immersion. I practice in Australia, particularly in South Australia, in the Kuitpo Forest near Meadows. Also in France, during the ecotherapy retreats I host.
A Sacred Forest Immersion is a slow, guided, and soulful experience in nature. Every session is different as we follow the rhythm of the land, the seasons, and the group's needs. During a forest bathing experience, you may be invited to:
Practise mindfulness in nature
Participate in guided Earth-led meditations
Journal reflections and observations
Share experiences within a supportive group
Explore poetry and nature-inspired readings
Respect wildlife and honour the land through slowness and presence
Practise the art of noticing and forest contemplation
Walk slowly and mindfully through the forest
Experience barefoot grounding practices when appropriate
Create land art, mandalas, or temporary artworks using natural elements
Sit quietly and simply be with nature
Forest bathing is not a hike, a workout, a performance, or a rush to get somewhere. We do not focus on distance, fitness, or achievement. It is also not about swimming, despite the name.
Shinrin Yoku is about slowing down, softening, and being fully present with nature through the senses. It is about giving yourself permission to pause, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the living world around you. 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, moments of silence, curiosity, and gentle invitations rather than instructions. Perhaps, expect to leave feeling calmer, more grounded, and more connected to yourself, others, and the Earth.
Benefits of Forest Bathing
Research suggests that forest bathing may:
Reduce stress and lower cortisol levels
Support immune system functioning
Improve cognitive function and mental clarity
Restore attention and focus, Attention Restoration Theory
Promote overall health and well-being
Calm the nervous system
Support emotional regulation and expression
Encourage mindfulness and present moment awareness
Deepen connection with nature, self, and community
Create space for emotional processing and release
Support physical wellbeing through gentle movement
Ground the body
Quiet the mind
Nourish the soul
Leave you feeling more centered, open, and restored
So next time life feels overwhelming, may forest bathing remind you that you are never separate from nature. You are part of it.
If you are ready to slow down, reconnect with your wild self, and explore the healing benefits of nature, I offer a free 20-minute phone call to start your path. You can visit my website or email me.
Read more from Sarah Frustié
Sarah Frustié, Ecotherapist, Forest Guide, Nature Retreat Facilitator, and Holistic Counselor
Sarah Frustié is a bilingual ecotherapist, holistic counselor, and forest guide based in the Adelaide Hills and France. She supports people in caring professions to navigate burnout, release chronic stress and anxiety, and reconnect with themselves through nature-based practices, forest bathing, and guided nature and meditation retreats. With a deep belief in the healing power of the natural world, Sarah blends mindfulness, eco-psychology, trauma-informed, and whole-person approaches to create safe and sacred experiences. She is the founder of Sarah Frustié Therapy, where every session is an invitation to slow down, breathe, and connect with the living world.
