TRADITIONAL mindfulness practice versus forest bathing nature therapy, is one better for you than the other? Both practices involve spending reflective time to quieten the mind. However, the key difference between the two disciplines is that forest bathing is usually spent outside in a woodland environment, bathing in the aromas of the oils emitted from …
A Pragmatic Controlled Trial of Forest Bathing Compared with Compassionate Mind Training in the UK: Impacts on Self-Reported Wellbeing and Heart Rate Variability In 2019 The Forest Bathing Institute in partnership with researchers from the University of Derby, led by Dr Kirsten McEwan from the Department of Health, Psychology & Social Care, carried out the first …
During December 2020, The Forest Bathing Institute (TFBI) hosted a special Forest Bathing+ immersive nature therapy session for the team from Voluntary Action South West Surrey (VASWS). VASWS is a registered charity whose purpose is to provide support to community groups based in the boroughs of Guildford & Waverley. Services offered include providing advice, information, …
Did you know that St. Valentines day may actually have started from bird watching? Most of us have heard the term ‘lovebirds’, and it may be that St Valentine’s day began with birds too. `Medieval French birdwatchers noticed that birds began to choose their mates in mid-February, and decided to give this an exact date: …
Photo credit: Unsplash We often forget to notice nature all around us, and this is especially true in our urban environments. Many species have adapted so well to the urban environment that they are easily overlooked. There’s more to see, and more ways to connect with nature in our urban streets than we might think. …
Why not make getting out in all weathers your next adventure? Whilst we love being in woodland and forests, we realise that during autumn and winter, especially when we are in another lockdown, it’s not always possible. However, getting outside and connecting with nature, in whatever way you can, has been proven to help mental …
Nature Connection & re-wilding yourself in all weathers Read More »
Forest Bathing Guide training online? How does that work? Very well, as it turns out. FB+ Guide-in-training Philippa Bassett shares her experience. This time last year, if you had asked me what my plans were for future training courses, I am pretty sure that one of them would not have been to train to become …
Forest Bathing+ Guide training – Philippa’s experience Read More »
Some of us may not be able to access woodland for a little while, so when Earth Day focused on climate change for it’s 50th anniversary, it seemed a good opportunity to appreciate the trees around us, their communities, their role in combating climate change, and our role in supporting them. We plan to talk …
The Icelandic Forestry Commission raised some eyebrows back in April with recommendations to hug trees to help with feelings of loneliness and aid general wellbeing during Coronavirus social distancing restrictions . Of course, they put some work in to make sure there were well managed routes throughout large areas of publicly available woodland to make …
Connecting with nature and watching animals is a great way to become absorbed for a while, set aside other thoughts and bring yourself into a more relaxed state. There is science to support this on a physiological level too. One solution to self-isolation and not being able to go out in nature is to bring …
Feeding birds – how a little effort can be hugely rewarding Read More »