WHAT IS FOREST THERAPY?
A GUIDED, NATURE-BASED PRACTICE OF SLOW, SENSORY IMMERSION FOR WELLBEING
FOREST THERAPY
Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” forest therapy invites us to slow down and connect, deeply and intentionally, with the natural world. It’s not a hike or a fitness walk. It’s a guided experience that uses the senses, breath, and presence to restore our relationship with the Earth and with ourselves.
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ROOTED IN SCIENCE, SUPPORTED BY RESEARCH
Forest therapy has been studied for decades, particularly in Japan, where researchers have explored the physiological and psychological effects of spending intentional time in natural environments.
Research has found associations between forest bathing and outcomes such as reduced stress and cortisol, improved mood, lower blood pressure, and changes in heart rate and other measures of nervous system activity. Studies have also explored effects on immune function, attention, and overall wellbeing.
The research continues to evolve, but the message is increasingly clear: time in nature can have measurable effects on how we feel and function.
At Buds in Bloom, we don't see the science and the experience as separate. The research helps us understand why slowing down in nature can matter. The experience itself gives us the opportunity to feel it.
Forest therapy isn't about escaping life. It's about changing how we meet it.
SLOW WALK
Gentle, intentional movement through the forest, meadow, or field.
INVITATIONS
Guided prompts and experiences that help you notice, feel, and connect with the land, your body, and your senses.
REFLECTION
Opportunities to speak, listen, or simply be present with others.
TEA CEREMONY
A sensory pause to rest, savor the moment, and gently return to the world.
WHAT TO EXPECT
WHO IS FOREST THERAPY FOR?
Forest therapy is for anyone who could use a little more space to slow down, breathe, and reconnect. You might be moving through a demanding season of life, navigating change or loss, caring for others, looking for a different kind of group experience, or simply curious about experiencing nature in a new way. There is no particular reason you need to have and no particular way you need to be. You belong here.
GRIEF & LOSS
Nature offers a nurturing space for those grieving. Forest therapy helps participants process emotions, feel held, and reconnect with a sense of continuity and care.
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STRESS
For people carrying full, demanding lives, forest therapy offers a chance to step out of constant doing, settle into a slower rhythm, and restore attention to what matters.
PRACTITIONERS & THEIR CLIENTS
Forest therapy complements the work of helping professionals, offering guided outdoor experiences that support wellbeing.
HELPING CAREGIVERS
Those who spend their days caring for others need places to be cared for, too. Forest therapy offers space to pause, breathe, and replenish the attention and energy given so generously to others.
TEAMS & ORGANIZATIONS
A forest therapy experience offers groups a different way to connect. Away from screens, schedules, and familiar roles, teams can slow down, listen differently, and share an experience rooted in place.
A DEEPER CONNECTION
You don't need to be navigating a particular challenge to come. You might simply want to slow down, spend intentional time outdoors, deepen your connection with nature, or experience the forest in a way that's different from a hike.