Guided Walk - Somatic Forest Bathing

Let’s cultivate a sense of calm and vitality and strengthen our inner resources with somatic forest bathing. My aim in guiding you today is to introduce you to the forest itself and to teach you a simple somatic resourcing technique that you may use anytime to relax and to help you stay embodied when uncomfortable thoughts or feelings arise. Shinrin-yoku, or Forest bathing, originated in Japan in the early 1980s as a response to rising stress and burnout in urban populations. It is not exercise, hiking, or jogging. Rather, it emphasizes slow, mindful immersion in a forest environment, using all five senses to connect deeply with nature. We will begin today’s practice with a gentle walk as we attune to the woodland environment, and then we will sit as we cultivate our somatic resources and bathe in the forest’s soothing atmosphere.