What exactly is "forest bathing"? Is there nudity involved?

Nope, none; we prefer if you keep your clothes on, actually! Forest bathing is the translation of "shinrin-yoku" a practice founded in Japan. It is designed to connect people to nature through sensory and somatic experiences that result in slowing-down and connecting to the natural world. It is a science-based practice, with much research revealing that time spent in nature actually has multiple and expansive health benefits including stress reduction, improved mood, and increased creativity. Studies even show that the natural chemical released by trees, called phytoncides, actually have cancer-fighting properties. When you think of FOREST BATHING imagine yourself completely immersed and soaking up all that good stuff. Forest therapy combines leisurely walks on gentle paths under forest canopy with guided activities to help you open your senses, hone your intuition, and experience nature as you never have before. We draw upon mindfulness meditation practices, and the techniques of deep nature connection mentoring. We also use the Way of Council for group dialogue at several points along the walk. This helps participants learn from and teach other as we discuss what we are experiencing together.

Is "forest bathing" and nature therapy different each time?

Each nature therapy experience will be new and different.

Forest therapy, a research-based practice inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku and practiced worldwide, supports healing and wellness through immersion in nature. Numerous studies have demonstrated a wide array of health benefits, cardiovascular and immune system improvement, and enrichment of mood, cognition, communication and creativity. The practice draws on medical research, new developments in nature connection, and ancient traditions of mindfulness. Every guided walk is an act of power and beauty, cultivating deep connections with transformational impacts. The experience is open-ended and hands-on; there is no prescription for what to expect or what benefits you might receive. Instead, it is a practice of developing a deepening relationship of reciprocity, in which the forest and your guide work together to support the wholeness and well-being of each participant. In forest therapy, there is a guided sequence that provides structure while embracing the many opportunities for imagination and serendipity offered by the forest and individual inspiration.

It is an experience like no other and it will change your whole perspective.

Forest bathing, nature therapy, and shinrin-yoku are basically interchangeable terms.

How do I prepare for forest bathing? What should I wear? What should I bring?

You will receive a welcome email describing all the specific details including what to bring, what not to bring, what to wear, where to park, and more. Your email will include specific instructions for your walk and what time you should arrive. General things to know: - Please eat before you arrive.

- We will start promptly so please arrive early to allow yourself time to find parking.
- We will we walk about a half mile (Each experience varies.)

What to wear:
- Comfortable walking shoes with socks

- Long pants and/or long socks: We will be sitting on the ground at times and perhaps standing in tall grass.

- Dress for the forecasted weather and your personal preferences

- Bring a jacket, hat, and sunglasses
- Feel free to carry a small pack if you wish
- Bring a small towel if you aren't comfortable sitting on the ground

- Bring a water bottle, sunscreen, and insect repellent (unscented)

What NOT to bring:
- Binoculars, scopes, bird books, and naturalists guidebooks; forest bathing is not a nature/naturalist walk.
- Journals
- Cameras, phones, wristwatch

- Dogs (unless otherwise noted for your event)

- Children under 16 (un less otherwise noted for your event)

- Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigs, vape pens, tobacco products

- Alcohol or other drugs

Is nature therapy and forest bathing safe? What about medical issues?

- There are natural hazards in any outdoor experience including loose rocks, slippery pathways, biting insects, or spiny plants. Please dress approprately to reduce your risks. - Your guide, Kortnee McDowell, is Wilderness First Aid Certified and will be carrying a first aid kit. - If you carry an epi-pen or other fast acting medication or have a medical condition (i.e. allergies, seizures, heart condition) you must let your guide know BEFORE we begin.

Is forest bathing kinda like a hike in the woods?

Yes... and no. You will be walking in the woods; however, this will be unlike any hike you've ever taken. Forest bathing is: - A non-vigorous, guided wander through the woods. - A series of invitations and activities to support you in experiencing nature in a totally unique way.
- Not a hike or a way to get exercise: we will be moving quite slowly and quietly and not traveling very far.

Where can I read more about forest bathing and the benefits of nature therapy?

Please request a resource list from Kortnee and check out the science and health benefits of forest bathing here:

https://www.natureandforesttherapy.org/about/science

There is plenty of information available online and a simple Google search will yield impressive results.

Just a note: Forest bathing, nature therapy, and shinrin-yoku are basically interchangeable terms.

What is forest therapy? Why should I do it?

Forest bathing, nature therapy, and shinrin-yoku are basically interchangeable terms.

Shinrin-yoku means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Researchers in Japan and South Korea have established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time in the living forest.

The idea is simple: If a person simply visits a natural area and walks in a relaxed way there are calming, rejuvenating and restorative benefits to be achieved.

We have always known this intuitively. But in the past several decades there have been many scientific studies demonstrating the mechanisms behind the healing effects of simply being in wild and natural areas. For example, many trees give off organic compounds that support our natural killer cells that are part of our immune system's way of fighting cancer.

The scientifically proven benefits of shinrin-yoku include:

• Boosted immune system functioning, increase in the count of the body's natural killer (NK) cells
• Reduced blood pressure
• Reduced stress
• Improved mood
• Increased ability to focus, even in children with ADHD
• Accelerated recovery from surgery or illness
• Increased energy level
• Improved sleep

What is reiki?

- Reiki is a Japanese technique, founded by Mikao Usui, for stress reduction and relaxation that promotes physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. - Reiki treats the whole person: body, emotions, mind and spirit. This creates beneficial effects including relaxation, feelings of peace, security, and wellbeing. - It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the principle that life force energy flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. - When our life energy becomes heavy, we are much more prone to disease or dis-ease. When our energy is high, we can enjoy greater well-being. - The word reiki is made of two Japanese words: Rei, which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki, which is "life force energy." So reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy." - A reiki treatment feels different to everyone. Some say it is a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around their body. Others say it feels warm and calm, while still others report that it feels cool and stimulating. Some patients report that they feel nothing at all, just a calm sense of well-being and relaxation. It is best to come with no expectations for a particular sensation or outcome. - Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method to promote spiritual healing, self-improvement, and health benefits. Reiki works as a complement to all other medical and therapeutic techniques, to relieve side effects and promote recovery. - Reiki is spiritual in nature, but it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe to receive reiki. Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because reiki comes from God, many people find that reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their own religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it.

What exactly is energy medicine, chakra clearing/alignment, crystals, and all that?

- Energy medicine recognizes life energy as a vital, living, moving force that determines much about health and happiness. - Quantum physics and experts in the field of epigenetics (Deepak Chopra, Gregg Braden, Bruce Lipton) recognize that we are not victims of our DNA, but instead we can indeed influence and create our own physical reality. - The body needs its energies to move and have space to continue to move. Energies may become blocked due to toxins, muscular or other constriction, prolonged stress, or interference from other energies. - Energy moves in specific patterns, usually in harmony with the physical structures and functions that the energies animate and support. "Flow follows function" at all levels, from the microlevel of the double helix of DNA, extending to the macrolevel where the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and the right side controls the left. - Maintain a balance with other energies. Our life energy may lose natural balance due to prolonged stress or other conditions that keep specific bodily systems in survival mode. When the body is not healthy, corresponding disturbances in its energies can be identified and treated. -Chakra clearing and alignment is a powerful way to clear your energy system. It unblocks, re-activates and rebalances the chakras (your energy centers), thereby increasing health and consciousness. Some quotes from world-renowned energy medicine professionals: "Energy medicine awakens energies that bring resilience, joy, and enthusiasm to your life – and greater vitality to your body, mind, and spirit! Balancing your energies balances your body's chemistry, regulates your hormones, helps you feel better, and helps you think better. It has been called the self-care and development path of the future, but it empowers you NOW to adapt to the challenges of the 21st century and to thrive within them." - Idon No, MD, ND Right Brain Definition: "Energy is your body's magic! It is your life force. You keep it healthy and it keeps you healthy. If you are sick or sad, shifting your energies feels good. When you care for these invisible energies, it makes your heart sing and your cells happy!" - Donna Eden Left Brain Definition: "Conventional medicine, at its foundation, focuses on the biochemistry of cells, tissue, and organs. Energy medicine, at its foundation, focuses on the energy fields of the body that organize and control the growth and repair of cells, tissue, and organs. Changing impaired energy patterns may be the most efficient, least invasive way to improve the vitality of organs, cells, and psyche." - David Feinstein, PhD "In every culture and in every medical tradition before ours, healing was accomplished by moving energy." - Albert Szent-Györgyi, MD, Nobel Laureate in Medicine "Is Energy medicine spiritual? Entering the world of your body's subtle energies is a bridge into the domain of your deepest spiritual callings and your eternal essence. While no particular belief system, allegiance, or religious affiliation is associated with energy medicine, many people find that energy work touches into the realms of soul and spirit." - Donna Eden

What are shamanic healing practices; what should I expect?

- In a healing session, the practitioner begins with a centering process to calm the mind, access a sense of compassion, and become fully present with the patient. The process eliminates blockages in the energy field so that the patient is in an optimal state for healing to occur. - Shamanic healing practices work within your energy field to help you align, reduce, and clear blockages that are creating imbalances in your mind, body, and spirit. Imbalances in your energy field result in stress, discomfort, and ultimately disease (dis-ease).

Why should I choose Kortnee as a speaker for my event?

- Kortnee is an outstanding and dynamic speaker with years of educational training and performance experience. She is engaging and lively; she is funny and fun. - An event with Kortnee will get your audience involved and participating in hands-on active experiential opportunities designed to instigate life change and personal growth. - Learning and memory research supports that change occurs when we are engaged kinesthetically and emotionally in the learning experience. Kortnee is a multiple award-winning educator, curriculum developer, and trainer of trainers. What workshop participants are saying: "Kortnee is so motivational and uplifting. She is positive and encouraging in ways that really made me feel empowered to make some changes in my life." -Kelsey R., San Antonio, TX "The activities with Ms. Kortnee were outstanding and fun. The whole family laughed and thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was hands-on and exciting." -Mom of three, McNay Family Art Day "Ms. McDowell has a gift for making each person feel recognized, special, and unique. I felt cared for and appreciated how this really made a difference for me. Thank you." -Brandon T., New Braunfels, TX "I never imagined how three hours in the forest could change the way I feel about life. Wow. I have a whole new perspective." -Wilson A., San Marcos, TX

Didn't find what you were looking for? Have more questions?

We want all your questions to be answered. Please fill out the contact form above which will send your message directly to us. We look forward to hearing from you.

So wait! Do forest bathing, nature therapy, nature healing, and forest therapy all mean the same thing?

Yup!