My journey with Shinrin Yoku, or forest bathing, began about ten years ago when I started spending part of each year in Japan. I was taking leave from my full-time corporate role in Sydney to help out with my family’s new business in a small fishing village in Japan. It was a beautiful contrast — the fast-paced city life colliding with the gentle rhythms of seaside living.

One morning, I went for a walk through a serene pine forest that lined a beach near where we were staying. As I wandered, I noticed a small group of people walking slowly, almost as if they were searching for something. Curious, I picked up my pace to overtake them, but as I came closer, an older woman gently took my hand and guided me behind her in line.

I could tell from her expression that I had disrupted something. Still, I didn’t understand what they were doing. Her steps slowed even more, and I noticed she was barefoot — surprising in a place like Japan, where going outside without shoes is uncommon. She gave me a gentle smile, waved toward my feet, and waited patiently as I slipped off my shoes. Then, we continued walking — slowly, deliberately.

She tilted her head back and took a long, deep breath in, followed by a slow exhale. I mirrored her movements. She pointed silently to the forest floor, then to a bee buzzing nearby, and finally to the wind rustling through the trees. In that moment, she invited me to stop doing and start being — to see, to feel, and to notice. Instead of trampling through the forest, I began to truly experience it.

Before parting ways, she smiled and said, “See you tomorrow for our daily Shinrin Yoku.”

“Shinrin” means forest. “Yoku” means bath. Together, Shinrin Yoku is the art of bathing in the forest atmosphere — a gentle invitation to take in the forest through all five senses.

Years later, I became a certified Shinrin Yoku guide through The Mindful Tourist: 森の心・人の心 — Journey Through Life With the Wisdom of the Forest. I practice in alignment with the ethical code of the International Shinrin Yoku Association, guiding others in this beautiful way of reconnecting with nature.

My goal is simple: to help harmonize the relationship between humans and the natural world through gentle, invitational experiences. During each session, I’ll guide you to slow down, open your senses, and allow the forest to support you — emotionally, physically, and spiritually. There is no pressure, only invitation. You are encouraged to trust your intuition and move at your own pace.

Shinrin Yoku was introduced by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in the 1980s as part of a national health program. It was a response to the rising stress and health issues brought about by rapid urbanization and demanding work culture.

At its core, the concept is beautifully simple: when we spend time in natural environments and open ourselves to sensory awareness, we allow nature to calm, restore, and heal us — mind, body, and soul.