Forest Bathing with Ana-Maria Olaru - Forest and Nature Immersion

You are invited on a nature journey, an experience based on a 40-year-old Japanese technique of nature immersion called ‘Shinrin-yoku’.

As a guide, Ana will help you open your senses and foster your immersion in nature through a variety of activities. Although the light exercise and social aspects are considered beneficial, the focus is mostly on your connection to the natural world.

Restorative environments like forests have been found to have positive effects on our biological, psychological, and social wellbeing. Immersing ourselves in nature can be helpful with difficulties like anxiety, depression, burnout, insomnia, high blood pressure, asthma, blood sugar, and even cancer!

What to expect

The experience will last approx 2 hours , and will involve a few sitting practices and gentle walking. You will need to be dressed appropriately for the weather as the experience will be conducted entirely outdoors. You may like to bring a cushion or blanket with you.

Expect to be guided in connecting deeper to nature though your sense of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. This experience would be very beneficial for people looking to slow down and take some respite from their busy lives, and/or aiming to build their connection to the natural world.

Benefit to biodiversity

Studies have shown that people with higher levels of nature connection often do more for nature, both in terms of reducing their impact on the environment and through taking positive actions to restore it. Since forest bathing practices lead to higher levels of nature connection, this practice can also lead to positive effects on biodiversity. Forest bathing allows participants to notice all parts of the ecosystem, all species, regardless of their usefulness to humans. The Organic Centre is an excellent location as they have multiple areas of biodiversity; wetland habitat with a lake, native woodland, and a large open wild grassland.