Forest Bathing on the Spring Equinox
On Saturday 21st March, (also as it happens to be on the international day of Forests) we were gifted something rather special.
After months of cold, wet and often grey days, the woodland welcomed us with an unexpectedly beautiful morning, soft light filtering through the trees, gentle warmth on our faces, and a quiet sense that spring was truly beginning to stir.
It felt like the perfect setting to begin with a simple but powerful invitation to our group:
“This is a morning totally dedicated to you.”
Arriving in the Present
We gathered at the entrance to the woodland as a small group of delegates, each bringing with them the weight of busy lives, responsibilities, and the quiet hum of everyday pressures.
Forest bathing, known as Shinrin-yoku, offers something beautifully simple in response to that. Developed in Japan as a way of reconnecting people with nature, it encourages us to slow down, breathe deeply, and fully engage our senses within a natural environment.
Before we began, we shared a gentle reminder: there was nowhere else to be, nothing else to do. Just to arrive, fully, in the present moment.
A Gentle Journey Through the Woodland
Our session began with a slow, facilitated walk along the woodland paths.
There was no rush, only pauses. Moments to notice. Invitations to step off the path where it felt right, to explore textures and sensations often overlooked.
Participants were encouraged to:
- Feel the roughness of bark beneath their hands
- Notice the softness of moss and lichen
- Lift their gaze to the canopy and sky
- Pause long enough to feel the breeze or the warmth of sunlight
It was a quiet unfolding, each person experiencing the woodland in their own way, guided gently but never hurried.
Photography : Amanda Jones
The Science Behind the Stillness
While forest bathing feels intuitive, its benefits are also well supported by research.
Time spent in nature has been shown to:
- Reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels
- Improve mood and emotional wellbeing
- Support better sleep through natural light exposure
- Boost immune function through compounds released by trees
These natural compounds, known as phytoncides, are part of the woodland’s unseen gift, helping our bodies restore balance simply through being present.
A Space for Reflection
We made our way to the long pond, where a designated area invited us into a deeper, more focused practice.
Here, the group spread out quietly, some leaning against trees, others sitting by the water, each finding a place that felt right.
Through gentle guidance, attention turned inward and outward at once:
- What can you see?
- What can you smell?
- What can you hear?
- What can you feel?
The woodland became not just something to observe, but something to experience fully, through breath, stillness, and awareness.
Photography: Amanda Jones
Gentle Movement: Tai Chi in the Woodland
As the stillness of the bathing session settled around us, we gently transitioned into a short Tai Chi practice, accompanied by soft, calming music that drifted quietly through the trees.
The music added another layer to the experience, helping to create a deeply calm and reflective atmosphere. It seemed to blend effortlessly with the natural sounds of the woodland, the rustle of leaves, birdsong, and the movement of the waterfall, guiding everyone into an even greater sense of calm.
Tai Chi is often described as “meditation in motion,” and within the woodland setting it felt particularly fitting. Through slow, flowing movements, participants were invited to:
- Release tension held in the body
- Improve balance and coordination
- Focus gently on breath and posture
- Move with intention rather than effort
There was no pressure to “get it right.” Instead, it was about moving in a way that felt natural and comfortable, softly stretching, opening the body, and allowing any remaining stress to ease away.
These gentle, rhythmic movements help to regulate the nervous system, encouraging a shift from the busyness of the mind into a more grounded, relaxed state. Tai Chi is known to support both physical and mental wellbeing, promoting relaxation while also improving flexibility, circulation, and overall balance.
Within the quiet embrace of the woodland, the practice became something more than exercise, it was a continuation of the forest bathing experience itself. Breath, movement, and nature working together in harmony.
By the end, there was a noticeable sense of calm across the group, a softness in posture, a steadiness in breath, and a shared feeling of having slowed down safely and naturally.
Closing Together
We ended the session as we began—together.
At the long pond, with a warm cup of tea in hand, there was time to reflect, share, or simply sit in quiet contentment. The atmosphere was calm, open, and deeply restorative.
It was wonderful to witness the group settle into the experience, to see shoulders drop, breathing slow, and a sense of ease return.
Why It Matters
In a world that so often pulls us in every direction, taking time to pause, to truly pause, is not always easy. Forest bathing reminds us that nature is not just something we care for, but something that cares for us in return. And perhaps most importantly, it gives us permission to step away from the noise and remember:
There is nowhere else we need to be, except here.
