Restore Your Inner Balance with Shinrin-yoku!
Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” is a Japanese form of therapy based on a mindful walk through the forest while engaging all your senses. This concept originated in Japan in the 1980s as a response to increasing stress and urbanization. Today, shinrin-yoku is considered a form of preventive medicine in Japan. It is gaining attention not only among nature lovers but also among doctors and scientists who study its effects. In Japan, there are even certified forest therapy physicians, and this approach is becoming popular worldwide.
Research shows that forest bathing:
- Reduces stress and tension
- Improves mood and concentration
- Alleviates anxiety, anger, and depression
- Strengthens the immune system
- Increases energy and overall well-being
At the same time, it:
- Helps us realize that not only performance but also simply being has value
- Teaches humility, gratitude, and harmonious coexistence
- Deepens awareness of interconnectedness, reciprocity, respect, and cooperation
Experience Shinrin-yoku in the Eagle Mountains
If you would like to experience shinrin-yoku under the guidance of an experienced instructor, you can join a guided forest therapy session in our mountains. Zuna, who lives here and is a certified shinrin-yoku guide, will help you deepen your connection with nature and fully experience its healing power.
What Happens During a Forest Bathing Session?
Of course, we all walk in the forest, but shinrin-yoku offers a deeper level of perception that allows you to absorb nature’s healing effects more intensely.
The core of shinrin-yoku is mindful engagement with the forest through all the senses. During the slow walk, we focus on details we often overlook in everyday life—the subtle sounds, scents, color variations, textures of bark, leaves, or moss. We take time to pause and observe the shapes of trees, the movement of the wind through the canopy, and the tiny life forms in the soil and among the roots. We notice how the light shifts and how the forest “speaks” through the whisper of leaves and birdsong—all while listening to our own inner feelings.
Slowing down, or even standing still, is essential—allowing yourself to be fully present and letting the forest influence both your body and mind.
Zuna also integrates Qi Gong practices into the experience, especially tree Qi Gong—an ancient Taoist method of exchanging energy with trees—which supports a deeper connection with nature and its energy.
Duration
The forest bathing session lasts approximately 2 hours, during which you will truly relax, rejuvenate, and discover many new things—not only about the forest and trees but also about yourself. Your phone, of course, stays at home :-).
Pricing
60 € per person (minimum 2 people)
You can also book a shinrin-yoku session for a larger group, even if you are not staying at Pangea Center.