Forest Bathing or Forest Therapy: What to Expect on a Guided Walk
This is a question I hear regularly from people who would like to try forest bathing or join a nature walk but still feel a little unsure. If you have never experienced forest therapy before, it is perfectly natural to wonder what actually happens and what you might get from it.
Psst! Before you read on, you should know that I offer gift cards — a lovely gift for yourself or someone else.
A sense of well-being and calm
In my experience, one of the first things many people notice during a forest therapy walk is a growing sense of well-being and calm. The stream of thoughts may begin to slow, creating a welcome pause from everyday mental noise.
As one trainee recently put it: “I feel as though anything could happen now and it would simply pass over me.” For a while, the noise of the world can seem to drift high above the tree canopy. And if the idea of training in forest therapy interests you, remember to read my practical mini-guide before you begin. 😉
Many people also notice physical relaxation: the body softens, muscles release and yawning is common. At the end of a walk, you may feel pleasantly tired, rather like after spending a day outdoors by the sea or in the mountains — a gentle tiredness that can feel deeply satisfying.
Renewed energy
Research on forest bathing has explored a range of physiological effects, including changes in blood pressure and stress-related markers. Some studies have observed lower blood pressure after time spent in forest environments, although results vary between studies and participants. Longer or repeated exposure to nature may produce different effects from a brief visit, and the quality of evidence is still developing.
Slow walking on natural ground also engages the body differently from sitting indoors or walking on a perfectly flat surface. Roots, small slopes and changes in terrain invite us to pay attention to balance, posture and movement — particularly welcome for people whose daily lives are very sedentary or physically repetitive.
As the body relaxes and movement becomes more natural, breathing often feels freer and deeper. A gentle uphill stretch may simply remind us that we are moving, breathing and fully present in our bodies.
This combination of gentle movement, sensory attention and time outdoors can leave people feeling refreshed. Other aspects of forest bathing and forest therapy are explored in research and are also often described subjectively during practices such as tree hugging.
The French word “sylvothérapie” comes from the Latin word silva, meaning forest or woodland. The term can therefore be understood as an approach to well-being through contact with trees and forests.
A possible spiritual dimension
From what I have observed during walks, immersion in a natural environment can also open a spiritual dimension for some people. This does not depend on belonging to a particular religion or belief system. Being among trees can simply awaken a sense of connection with the Earth, with life, or with something larger than ourselves.
We may find ourselves amazed by the shape of a leaf, the delicacy of a flower or light caught in a drop of dew. Trees, rivers, sunlight and wind can also bring a welcome sense of perspective and humility.
The abundance of life around us can bring hope and renewed motivation, and sometimes helps us look at difficulties from a different angle.
Sometimes I invite participants to reflect quietly on a project that matters to them. Away from their usual environment, new ideas or intuitions often emerge.
Try sitting beneath a tree with a question or project in mind and notice what changes. Whether we approach the experience through psychology, creativity or spirituality, a change of setting can sometimes change our thinking too. 😉
Reconnecting with yourself
For some people, this sense of connection with nature naturally leads inward. Being surrounded by something larger and older than ourselves can invite reflection on who we are, what matters to us and how we want to live.
This does not necessarily happen during the walk itself. It depends on the time available, the group, the guide and your own state of mind. Sometimes reflection arrives later — on the journey home or in the quiet of the evening.
At other times, emotions or thoughts arise spontaneously during the walk. Nothing is forced. I remember one participant who laughed for almost an hour without quite knowing why — it simply seemed to be a moment of release and lightness.
Sometimes people cry. Leaning against a tree or sitting quietly beside it can create enough privacy and calm for emotions that have been held back at home or at work to surface. Trees do not judge; they simply offer a quiet presence.
When someone returns with damp eyes, I simply make sure they are all right. Often they have spent a very private moment with themselves and the tree. Letting emotion move through can sometimes feel relieving.
If you feel like crying while sitting with a tree, there is no need to fight the feeling. Give yourself the space you need.
If this has already happened to you or you are concerned about how to welcome strong emotions during nature-based sessions, I invite you to read the article I wrote specifically on this subject.
Of course, I always check that everyone feels okay before the walk continues.
So, in broad terms, this is what you might experience on a forest therapy walk. Forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) and forest therapy bring together several elements at once: slowing down, gentle movement, sensory immersion, connection with nature and space for reflection. Everyone experiences them differently, so the best way to understand is simply to try for yourself. 🙂
A trained forest therapy guide can help structure the experience and offer invitations that make it easier to slow down and engage with the environment.
For people who want to go further and immerse themselves more deeply in their relationship with trees — and with themselves — I offer a five-day forest therapy training course, designed to help you develop the skills to guide Spiritual Forest Therapy & Plant Consciousness experiences.
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