Forest Therapy is a guided experience that connects us with the healing elements of nature. Also known as “Shinrin-Yoku,” it is the practice of spending time in forested areas for the purpose of enhancing health, wellness, and happiness.
Guided Forest Therapy is not simply a walk in the forest, but rather a guided adventure that promotes interaction with the natural world and engages our imagination.
This immersion in nature helps us disengage from our busy lives, where our thoughts tend to incessantly rotate through our to-do lists and daily agendas. Instead we are able to focus on the sights, sounds, and smells surrounding us in the natural world, becoming fully aware of the present moment instead of focusing on the past or future.
Associated with lowered cortisol levels, blood pressure, heart rate, and inflammation, forest therapy is an affordable and easy way to decrease stress in our everyday lives. Less stress and more relaxation are crucial for good health as chronic stress damages immune function and makes us more prone to depression, heart disease, and other disorders.
Join Jewels Daugherty, Metroparks Volunteer and Certified Forest Therapy Guide, on June 2 at Wildwood Preserve Metropark, for Wild in the Woods, a FREE community event made possible with the partnership between Yogaja Yoga and Metroparks Toledo.
Jewels will have a station from 7AM to 2PM offering opportunities to experience forest therapy and learn more about upcoming programs.
For information on scheduling a Metroparks Forest Therapy program for your group, please contact Metroparks Programming Administrative Assistant, Nick Dian, at 419-407-9789 or email Kim High (Certified Forest Therapy Guide).
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