Forest Bathing for People Who’ve Experienced Loss
Forest Bathing is spending time in nature in a way that invites healing interactions.
I became a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide in 2018 because I wanted to give people a different way of being in Nature - slowing down, noticing the natural world, and just being at ease - as I had experienced throughout my life. When I then started working as an End of Life Designer, I really noticed how little education there was to help people in navigating life’s transitions, including death.
Forest Bathing has been proven to have a calming effect on the nervous system, leading to decreased levels of blood pressure and stress hormones, such as cortisol. This can be particularly helpful for individuals who are experiencing heightened emotional distress, due to a loss.
Forest bathing, also known as Shinrin-yoku, is a powerful practice that involves immersing yourself in nature and mindfully experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest and other natural settings. You walk slowly and notice things. You feel the touch of the breeze on your skin; you notice the sounds of water, the birds and the movement of trees in the wind. And you take that noticing in, give it hospitality, let it land inside you.
Forest bathing not the same thing as hiking. The destination in forest bathing is “here,” not “there.” The pace is slow, not fast. The focus is on connection and relationship. And, covering no more than 1 km over 2 - 3 hours is the standard.
Numerous studies have demonstrated a wide array of benefits, especially for the cardiovascular and immune systems, as well as for stabilizing and improving mood and cognition. Guides build on these benefits and look beyond, to what happens when people remember that we are a part of nature, not separate from it, and are related to all other beings in fundamental ways.
In practicing forest bathing, we have the opportunity to enter into a liminal space through "invitations" presented by the guide. Being in this state of not knowing opens us up to the possibility of genuine inquiry and the sensation of being alive. In liminality, we also break the cultural trance that causes people to assume that they know the world.
Invitations are often improvised in the moment and adapted to the needs of participants, allowing time for wandering and/or sitting, to reflect. The walks end with a ceremony of sharing tea made from foraged local plants, to support participants' re-entry into their daily lives.
Guides are not therapists. Support for wellness, personal development, and perhaps healing comes from participants' interaction with the natural environment they are in.
These guided walks have one sole aim - creating and sustaining safe, meaningful, and relational contact between participants and nature. We don't diagnose participants, nor do we enter into agreements with them about specific complaint and goals for wellness. We're simply there to help people connect with nature.
As forest therapy guides, we aim to be agenda-free, so we don't have any particular goal in mind to achieve. Instead, we view the healing contract, if any, as existing between the forest and the participant.
Forest bathing has been scientifically proven to provide numerous benefits to mental and physical well-being for individuals in various circumstances, including those who’ve experienced loss.
When someone experiences a loss, whether it’s the death of a loved one, a pet, a significant life change, or any other form of grief, it can have a profound impact on their emotional and psychological state. Forest Bathing can be incredibly beneficial for several reasons:
1. Stress reduction: Spending time in nature has been found to significantly reduce stress levels. Forest environments have a profound calming effect on the nervous system, leading to decreased levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. This can be particularly helpful for individuals who are experiencing grief and heightened emotional distress.
2. Emotional restoration: Grief often takes a significant toll on emotional well-being. Forest bathing allows individuals to engage their senses and connect with the natural world, which can help restore a profound sense of calm and tranquility. The soothing sounds, gentle breezes, and natural beauty of the forest can provide immense solace and promote emotional healing.
3. Mindfulness and reflection: Forest bathing encourages mindfulness, which involves focusing on the present moment and accepting it without judgment. This powerful practice can help individuals who have suffered a loss to process their emotions, reflect on their feelings, and find moments of peace and clarity amidst their grief.
4. Connection and support: Being in nature can provide a profound sense of connection and interconnectedness with something larger than oneself. This powerful connection can help individuals who have suffered a loss feel less isolated and more supported by the natural world. Additionally, participating in forest bathing activities with others, can foster a powerful sense of community and provide a space for shared experiences and support.
“Change is the only constant in life. Embrace it with an open mind and a willing heart, and you will navigate life’s transitions with grace and ease”
I am now offering, Forest Bathing For People Who’ve Experienced Loss, near Victoria, B.C., at Royal Oak Burial Park.
I will also offer virtual experiences using Zoom, which is a great option if you cannot leave your home, or are in another part of the World.
So please join my bi-monthly newsletter HERE to be updated on workshops, resources and events.
And in the meantime, take 15 minutes to sit near a tree, or look out your window at the sky, and ask yourself, what am I noticing?
Best,
Maria @Live and Die Wise and @NatureRx
