ACTIVITIES

The forest bath, the literal translation of the Japanese shinrin yoku, is a sensory immersion in the forest, undertaken with a focus on well-being and health.

This practice originated in Japan in the 1980s when scientists demonstrated the benefits of a walk in the forest on our body in general. As such, a forest bath can be prescribed by a Japanese doctor just like any other recommendation aimed at improving our health.

A forest bath lasts about 2 to 3 hours knowing that many studies have shown that after only 40 minutes of walking, participants see their stress levels, heart rate, and blood pressure decrease.

It is possible to undertake a forest bath in any season, even if winter is somewhat less favorable. The course generally follows manageable, not too steep trails, with excursions into the heart of the woods. The presence of water, in all its forms, is an additional call to open the senses.

The forest bath is a special moment, a time for oneself, a letting go, an opportunity to live in the present moment, a constantly renewed wonder. It is a beautiful encounter with nature, with others, and with oneself.

The forest bath is not a true sporting activity and does not require significant physical exertion.

There is no goal to be achieved within a given time.

It is also not a botanical outing to learn about tree species, plants, or forest residents.

That is not the essence, but your guide can, to the best of their knowledge, answer your questions or draw your attention to something particular...

Japanese scientists studied why walks in the forest provide a sense of well-being and beneficial effects on health through rigorous experiments with control groups.

They found that an exposure of about 2 hours in a forest acted on the following levels:

mental : reduction of stress (decrease in cortisol) and anxiety, facilitation of sleep, prevention of depression, restoration of attention, enhancement of cognitive abilities and creativity;
cardiovascular and digestive : slowing of heart rate and strengthening of its variability, reduction of blood pressure, facilitation of digestion;
immune system : stimulation and strengthening of the immune system, increase of NK cells and anticancer proteins.

Welcome: introduction of everyone and what will follow.

Activities: short linking walks, strolling sequences or on-site with an invitation from the guide appealing to the senses, for an individual or group exercise, and sharing circle at the end of the sequence.

Examples of invitation:

hearing: listening to the songs of birds, the wind in the leaves, the sound of nearby streams, ...

smell: sensing the bark of trees, the fragrance of flowers, the scent of the underbrush, …

sight: observing the landscape, the shapes of plants, the colors of leaves, ...

touch: feeling leaves, moss, collected objects, ...

taste: inhale the air, absorb nuts, berries ...

Circle of sharing at the conclusion of the bath.

Tea ceremony before parting ways.

Forest Therapy is an intervention based on nature that addresses "health as the result of a process of adaptation of the human being to their physical and social environment." Forest Therapy aims to promote positive mental health states, improve physical and social health by strengthening the connection with nature, interpersonal relationships, and social cohesion.

Ultimately, it serves as a bridge between health and the physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being of the person and their environment.
Forest Therapy has a multidisciplinary approach stemming from fields such as planetary health, forest medicine, sociology, psychology, social work, emotional ecology, ecology, and forestry, among others. Supported by this multidisciplinary approach, Forest Therapy can act as a complement to standard treatment and rehabilitation of specific diseases.

• He prepares and facilitates interventions supporting activities for connecting to nature and expressive arts, for prevention, limiting effects, or treatment and rehabilitation for mental health disorders;

• He collaborates with health professionals to carry out interventions and adapt them to specific population groups (by age, social context, pathologies);

• He evaluates interventions concerning risks and outcomes.

For example, interventions proposed by a forest therapy practitioner, and according to the needs and objectives expressed by health professionals, can be designed to address nature-related issues:

• Behavioral (empathy, ... )
• Cognitive (concentration, attention, ... )
• Emotional (self-esteem, aggression, ... )
• Systemic (social interaction, group cohesion, ... )

Unless specifically trained, the forest therapy practitioner is not a therapist, but their interventions with teams of health professionals have a therapeutic approach and virtues.