Written by BASSP Student Morgan McShea
“Forest Bathing” from the Japanese practice “Shinrin-yoku” involves immersing yourself in the splendor of nature through your senses. Many of us lead busy lives, balancing school, work, and relationships, and can find ourselves stressed, anxious, or burned out. Forest bathing offers an opportunity to reconnect with nature, with our bodies, and with our community by slowing down and simply noticing the beauty that exists around us.
The beauty of forest bathing is in its simplicity and accessibility. Many of us who enjoy going for walks or sitting quietly outdoors have been intuitively forest bathing without realizing it. I found this to be the case for myself, as a series of difficult life transitions found me outside, seeking solace in nature. In my exploration of the healing powers of nature, I stumbled upon a book by Dr. Qing Li about forest bathing, and this set the trajectory for my Capstone.
I consumed all the books I could find on forest bathing and began to create a curriculum for sessions that I could lead in order to share this beautiful practice with others. Forest bathing as a practice involves taking groups into green spaces and offering a series of “invitations” that serve as prompts to get individuals out of their internal dialogue and thoughts and into their senses and the present moment. Additionally, it involves setting a scene and mood that allows for people to explore nature with childlike wonder and curiosity.
I have been fortunate to partner with both Friends of North Creek Forest and the Outdoor Wellness Leaders (OWLs) to offer free forest bathing sessions to students and the greater Bothell community. These sessions have included 1-hour walks through North Creek Forest and our campus wetlands, as well as some outdoor excursions with forest bathing integrated! These events have been truly special, making forest bathing more accessible by combining it with hiking, birdwatching, canoeing, and snowshoeing.
Beyond my personal experience, there is research that demonstrates “promising results for human health, including cardiovascular, immune, and neuro-endocrine benefits, as well as improvement in mental wellbeing” tied to forest bathing (Payne & Delphinus, 2018). Additionally, participant surveys administered before and after my sessions have demonstrated a marked improvement in mood and ratings of connectedness to the environment and to one’s body. It has been humbling and inspiring to hear individuals remark that forest bathing is “like being a kid again” or has given them the feelings of
calmness, restoration, or peace. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to share forest bathing with others as my Capstone, and I fully intend to pursue certification continue guiding after graduation!
Interested in experiencing it yourself? Join us for our last on-campus event on June 4th- where we will be forest bathing and foraging on campus! You can also join forest bathing sessions offered to the public by Cascadia Forest Therapy! Finally, see an article written by one of my session participants in My Edmonds News!
Reference:
Payne, M., & Delphinus, E. (2018). A Review of the Current Evidence for the Health Benefits Derived
from Forest Bathing. International Journal of Health, Wellness & Society, 9(1), 19–30.
https://doi.org/10.18848/2156-8960/CGP/v09i01/19-30
The Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Practices program hosts students who have completed an associate degree or higher, also helping professionals with bachelor’s degrees already retrain into the sustainability field! This two year program has a capstone project as part of the program as seen above, and we invite you to look at what Cascadia College can offer you for education in Sustainability! Find out more at www.cascadia.edu/bassp
Integrate It! 