Forest Bathing in the Redwoods
A special guided wellness practice for Mountain Experience day visitors or Personal Retreat guests! 11:30am - 1:30pm
You are invited to a special practice of forest bathing! Register for a Mountain Experience Day Visit or an overnight Personal Retreat and be a part of this session of resonance with the natural world around us.
Called shinrin-yoku in Japan, forest bathing is an ecotherapy practice that supports health and wellness through a sensory experience in the forest and other natural environments. Our nervous systems are built to resonate with set points derived from the natural world. When we reconnect with our natural habitat and awaken all of our senses, we are able to experience a sensory extravaganza that helps us to feel fully physically alive. Through the care and attention to the environment around us, the practice promotes the well-being of both people and the land.
During this nature immersion, you will be guided on a safe, gentle walk through the majestic redwoods with a clearly defined sequence of invitations to slow down and encourage your senses to open and experience the environment. All you will need to do is accept the invitation, and Mother Nature will do the rest.
The day’s program will also include:
- Brunch & dinner in the shared community dining hall
- Personal time
- Yoga class
- Option to stay after dinner for arati (ceremony of lights) at the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple
- Option to book a wellness treatment at the Kaya Kalpa Wellness Center (additional cost)
Schedule
| Saturday, August 24 | |
| 10:00 am | Arrival & Check-in |
| 10:00 - 11:00 am | Brunch |
| 11:30 - 1:30 pm | Forest bathing |
| 1:30 - 4:00 pm | Personal time |
| 3:30 - 4:45 pm | Yoga |
| 5:15 - 6:15 pm | Dinner |
| 6:00 pm | Arati |
| 7:00 pm | Program Concludes |
Resources:
Read more about forest bathing in this National Geographic article that talks about forest bathing as both a “physiological and psychological exercise” that offers “an eco-antidote to tech-boom burnout and to inspire residents [of Japan] to reconnect with and protect the country’s forests.”
Read more about ecotherapy in this Everyday Health article that offers more insights into this millennia old concept practiced in India and China for centuries and which is now an “emerging field with a growing body of research backing its many potential health benefits, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).”
Presenter
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Maria BestMaria Best is a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide, as well as a Board Certified Professional Organizer and Feng Shui Practitioner specializing in Biophilic Design. She lives in Salinas, California, an abundant agricultural town nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal Redwoods and spends countless hours visiting the forests and the seashore. Maria is committed to her partnership with nature to enhance the well-being for both people and our land.
Passionate about volunteering in her local community, Maria works with high school students in the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) program, a multi-disciplinary approach to architectural design that empowers students in creating harmonious spaces on their campuses. Maria also volunteers as a Purpose Workshop Facilitator with the Blue Zones Project Monterey County.
Maria recently published her first book, Come to Me Called the Sea.
