What Is Forest Bathing, And Why Does Guidance Matter?
A walk in the woods and forest bathing are not the same thing.
A walk has a destination. A pace. Usually a purpose, get somewhere, get steps in, get it done.
Forest bathing has none of that. No destination. No pace to keep. Nothing to achieve.
Rooted in the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, forest bathing is slow, sensory, unhurried time in nature… guided attention rather than exercise. You're not walking through the woodland. You're arriving in it.
Why most people can't do this alone
Here's what I notice, over and over, in the women I guide.
They know, in theory, that slowing down would help. And they still can't do it on their own.
Not because they're doing it wrong. Because the nervous system doesn't switch states just because you've told it to. Left to your own devices in a beautiful woodland, the mind still runs its usual loops… the to-do list, the conversation you're replaying, the phone you keep almost reaching for.
Having a guide changes that.
Structure and containment give the nervous system permission it doesn't give itself.
People often say the same thing after a session… that it gave them permission to simply be.
Not permission from me.
Permission they finally allowed themselves, because the space was held for them.
What tends to shift
Women usually arrive tired, anxious, mentally busy, or simply curious.
What I notice by the end is rarely dramatic. It's quieter than that. Breathing that's slowed without anyone trying to slow it. Shoulders that have dropped. A stillness that wasn't there an hour before.
Sleep is one of the things women mention most. Not always, and not for everyone, but often enough that it's worth naming.
A 2026 review of the research, published in Medical Sciences, looked at forest bathing's links to lower cortisol, increased natural killer cell activity, and a shift toward the parasympathetic nervous system, the branch responsible for rest and recovery.
The authors are honest that the evidence base is still developing and doesn't yet support firm causal claims, but the direction it points in matches what I see in the women I guide. Read the review
Forest bathing isn't a cure for anxiety, and it isn't a substitute for the deeper work some patterns need.
It's a supportive practice… one part of coming back to yourself, not the whole of it.
As featured in Olive Magazine
I spoke to Olive Magazine recently about exactly this, why guided sessions help people access something they struggle to reach alone. You can read the full piece here: Olive Magazine, "I tried forest bathing to see if it can really help my anxiety"
My background
I've been guiding forest bathing since 2019, and trained as a Forest Therapy practitioner the following year.
This work found me during my own period of high stress and anxiety, when time in woodland became one of the few things that actually helped.
I've since worked with organisations including the National Trust, Forestry England, Cancercare, and The Lighthouse Charity.
Frequently asked questions
What is forest bathing?
Forest bathing is a slow, guided, sensory practice rooted in shinrin-yoku. It supports the body's shift from stress into rest, through unhurried attention to the natural environment rather than exercise or hiking.
Is forest bathing the same as a walk in nature?
No. A walk usually has a pace and a destination. Forest bathing has neither. The focus is sensory awareness and presence, not movement or distance.
Why is a guide better than doing it alone?
Many people find it hard to slow down without support, especially when they're stressed or mentally busy.
A trained guide offers structure that makes it easier for the nervous system to settle.
Can forest bathing help with anxiety?
It's a supportive wellbeing practice that many women find calming, particularly for overthinking and a busy mind. It isn't a substitute for clinical treatment and works alongside other support rather than replacing it.
Where can I try forest bathing in Cumbria or the Lake District?
Seasonal forest bathing sessions run throughout the year near Kendal, South Cumbria, alongside the Alchemy with Nature retreat in the Lake District.