Forest bathing or ʻshinrin-yokuʼ was first developed in Japan in the early 1980s following scientific studies initiated by the government who were concerned about the rise in ill health at work.
The results in general showed that two hours of mindful exploration in a woodland environment could reduce blood pressure, lower cortisol (stress hormone) and improve concentration and memory. They also found that trees release chemicals called phytoncides, which have an anti-microbial effect on human bodies, boosting the immune system by increasing our natural killer cell production.
We will be spending most of our time strolling through the woodland and Ann will be facilitating a mindful practice for you. These will be in the form of invitations and therefore not obligatory if for any reason, you do not wish to participate. The session will finish with a chance for you to feedback any reflections if you wish whilst sampling a herbal infusion.
Please wear comfortable outdoor clothes with walking shoes and bring waterproofs, a water bottle and snack if required. If weather conditions are deemed unsafe on the day, we will contact you two hours beforehand.
