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Description

Forest Bathing is a Japanese practice of relaxation, known in Japan as shinrin yoku. This simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you while breathing deeply, can help both adults and children de-stress and boost health and well-being in a natural way.

Resources

Appropriate and accessible outdoor area - an area of the forest that is not restricted.

Instructions

Gather everyone together. Ask if anyone knows what forest bathing is.
Before you begin, remind everyone how they can use the space respectfully. They should be calm and quiet, so you don’t disturb wildlife or other people, they should take litter home and they shouldn’t pick any flowers or plants.
Ask everyone to find a spot to sit or stand, but within a safe distance from the volunteer team. Everyone should be quiet and still. Always explain the boundaries of the area and where the no-go zones are. If you’re in a public space, young people should be paired up so no young person is left alone and they should sit or move together.
Once everyone’s found a space, ask everyone to close their eyes and listen to what’s happening around them. What can they hear and smell?
Now, ask everyone to open their eyes. Ask people to focus on what they can see or touch. People can walk slowly be­tween the trees or sit quietly with them.
To help with focus, you could give people colouring pens, pencils and paper to sit and draw what they see or hear, if they’d like to.

Tips:
Slow down. Move through the forest slowly so you can see and feel more.

Take long breaths deep into the abdomen. Extending the exhalation of air to twice the length of the inhalation sends a message to the body that it can relax.

Stop, stand or sit, smell what’s around you, what can you smell?

Tags

• camp activity
• mental health
• Outdoor
• Wellbeing

Badge Links

• Adventure - Adventurous activity
• Adventure - Outdoor activity