We had been hearing about forest bathing for quite some time when we finally learned about a local, Nova Scotia, company offering forest bathing experiences. For Christina’s birthday (March, 2022) we finally took the chance to schedule an off-farm day involving a forest bathing wellness walk in the Watershed Nature Preserve, in Wolfville and then lunch at the Wolfville Farmer’s market. This was our first opportunity to meet Wil Bruner, a certified forest therapy guide, for a forest bathing experience. For those of you who’ve never heard about forest bathing, there’s lot of info online, but here’s a short explanation from Soft Pine Wellness’ website (www.softpinewellness.ca).
Nature’s Cure for Stressful Times
“Forest Bathing or “Forest Therapy” was created in Japan in the early 1980’s in response to mental and physical health problems from a more urbanized population. Inspired by Japan’s spiritual and cultural connection to the natural world, scientists began studying nature’s effects on human health. Now Japanese people regularly practice forest bathing within their healthcare system to maintain good health and wellbeing.
A forest bathing walk is like a walking meditation that focuses on the felt senses and each person’s unique perspective. Once the walk begins, you will be offered a series of “invitations”, sensory experiences that helps you connect to the natural world. You may be invited to carefully feel plants with your fingers or listen to the rippling of water. Through the sequence of invitations, a closing activity incorporates the experience.”
Although we spend a lot of time outdoors including in the forest here on the farm, the guided walk provided a new and different perspective of the nature that surrounds us. Even on a cold winter day, after our 2-hour experience, we felt very relaxed and satisfied with the experience that stayed with us for quite some time.
Soon after our walk with Wil in Wolfville, we coordinated the first forest bathing experience here on the farm. Our pavilion is the meeting/starting point for any of our on-farm events. The participants then walked a farm road through a series of hayfields to a path we carved through the woods and around a small pond. The path leads back up onto an existing woods road which continues to a resting spot that we created in an opening in the forest. We constructed rustic benches and stumps in the opening such that people could sit, rest, and participate in the final invitation before walking back to the pavilion. The sights and sounds will vary by season, even when using the same route. Now that the hayfields are cut and the temperatures are cooling, we’re planning a second forest bathing session here on the farm.
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