Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the intentional practice of slowing down, surrounding oneself in nature, and being mindful of each sense. Join us in celebrating a week of self-care inspired by this practice.
We’ll have prompts throughout our garden spaces that will take you on a self-guided journey so you can leave here feeling refreshed and energized. Keep an eye out for signs as you enter the Garden!
Family Studio
Participate in fun activities in the Family Studio on Saturday 8/9 and Sunday 8/10 during Forest Bathing week like Lego Bonsai building and coloring pages.
Also join us both days (8/9, 8/10) for a Forest Bathing Giveaway in the Family Studio. The first 20 guests who complete the self-guided journey on either of these days will receive a Discovery Journal (children’s activity book available in English, Spanish, and Chinese) and a copy of Forest Bathing to Better Our Health.
More About Forest Bathing
Of the more formalized approaches to leveraging the special qualities of nature, forest bathing has started to grow momentum in the American cultural zeitgeist. Only popularized as a term in 1982 by the Japanese Forestry Agency, it can be thought of as the intentional practice of surrounding oneself in nature and being mindful of each sense—something more conscious and unplugged than staring at a smartphone underneath a tree.
As its format is still being shaped by its practitioners, the results of forest bathing are coming into clearer view. Research has indicated that a variety of forest bathing activities are associated with positive mental and physical health outcomes and reveals that even different logistical approaches, such as the length of time spent or specific actions (e.g., walking, sitting) can correlate to beneficial outcomes.
Learn more about forest bathing here.
If you’re inspired to dig into this practice further, check out our neighbors at Hoyt Arboretum as well as Leach Botanical Garden as they often offer Forest Bathing Tours!