Let the Forest Heal You
Trees are medicine.
Feeling overwhelmed. Walk among trees.
Feeling heavy. Rest awhile under a colourful canopy.
Feeling anxious. Touch the bark and absorb its strength.
Simply being in the forest is restorative and healing for humans. Forests release powerful natural compounds called phytoncides and when we breathe them in, our bodies respond in surprisingly positive ways. From decreasing stress and anxiety to boosting moods, energy and immune function, spending time among trees – known as forest bathing – is so good for health and well-being.
Forest bathing can open us up to something we didn’t even know we longed for or needed. As the days grow shorter, the air cooler and moods darken, nature immersion provides a natural form of light and colour therapy and an antidote to autumn melancholy. A breath of forest air might be the medicine you need to get you through the darker months ahead.
So much of daily life pulls us away from the natural living world and we miss out on its gifts of awe, connection and deep reflection. Forest bathing puts us in touch with ourselves and the rhythms of nature, and nourishes our need for belonging, ritual and to be connected to the living world around us.
Forest bathing is an evolution of shinrin-yoku, a Japanese grounding practice of mindfully immersing yourself in nature. No hiking required. No need to break a sweat. Forest bathing is about being, not doing. To move slowly, breathe deeply, to reflect and be aware.
Incorporating forest bathing into your life doesn’t require elaborate rituals or specialized training – all you need is a forest and some time. And fall is the perfect season to benefit from the trees’ healing powers, to seek stillness and calm, and to wander in the woods.
And to feel the forest in a different way. Pause, inhale and be grounded in fall’s warm comforting hues, the earthy scent of damp soil and moss, the sounds of fallen leaves dancing and their crispness crunching underfoot.
We invite you to our beautiful forests at Ste. Anne’s for earth-based therapeutic healing. We are not just in nature – we are nature. Nestled in Northumberland’s countryside, our sprawling 500-acre property features cedar forests, gardens and landscapes to explore, restore and heal hearts, spirits and bodies.
Come feel the trees breathe. They are rooted, alive and present. Mindfully observe and breathe with the living forest around you. Let moments become minutes as you:
- Smell the fragrance of leaves, twigs and pine needles nourishing the forest
- Hear the rustle of small wildlife
- Feel the crisp, fresh air moving across your skin
- See the colours, shapes and movements of the trees
- Touch the leaves, moss and bark
Feel our forest envelop you physically and emotionally. Absorb its resilience and strength. Feel your heart rate and blood pressure drop, stress fall away and a calmness set in.
At Ste. Anne’s Spa, nature immersion is just one of the many holistic practices and treatments we offer to soothe weary minds and spirits, and nourish well-being. As light lessens, and energy levels dip and so too moods, let us be part of your ecosystem of self-care and naturally, gently support your well-being.
No matter the season, come disconnect from the stresses and connect to the trees.
