Just one week away! Here is a reminder for our free upcoming forest bathing session. Please keep reading for some Frequently Asked Questions!Â
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Maggies has published a wonderful article about forest bathing. You can read it here on her blog or on the Santa Fe New Mexican where it was originally published in her monthly column.
The ANFT* Guides of New Mexico are joining together on September 19 to offer free forest bathing sessions, gathering us on the land in various locations across the state. I will be hosting a session south of Santa Fe, off the Turquoise Trail. This gentle 90-minute experience is inspired by the practice of shinrin yoku, which was invented 45 years ago in Japan. By taking people into the forest, doctors learned they could positively impact stress, cancer, and many illnesses associated with urbanization. And yes! We receive these same benefits here on our desert land.
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My co-host is my friend and neighbor, Maggie Macaulay, of Whole Hearted Parenting. She's inviting her community to join us; I will be leading the session. Everyone is welcome! Maggie is a parenting and relationship coach; she also writes a column for the Santa Fe New Mexican.
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Full instructions will be sent after you register here.Â
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Please reply to this email if you have any questions.Â
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🌿 We hope to see you soon!
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Roxanne & Maggie
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*ANFT stands for the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy; it has certified over 3500 guides across the world!
I'm the creator of Nature Walks with Rox, and your ANFT-certified guide. I'm also a nature-based artist, yoga teacher, and former health coach for Johnson & Johnson. Nature has been a friend and supporter my entire life and I look forward to sharing the land, the plants, and the animals with you.
I'm a trauma informed and therapeutically informed coach with a specialty in Internal Family Systems, and serve on the coaching team with Resilience Partners Coaching. We offer coaching, consulting, and workshops guided by the most innovative science on resilience, transformation and change that you can count on.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Does forest bathing work here in the desert? Yes, it does! Our juniper and pinyon trees emit the same phytoncides as all other trees and by spending time with them, our bodies will breathe in this ‘aromatherapy of the forest.’
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How strenuous is it? Not strenuous at all. In fact, we move quite slowly across the land, giving us time to notice things we normally miss.
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How structured is it? Very loosely. After a brief introduction, I'll offer a series of invitations — ways to awaken your senses and interact with the land, the plants, the sky, etc. If you want to do something else, you may. We gather back together every 10-15 minutes for a very brief, optional sharing.
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What should I wear? Comfortable clothing, ideally a layer or two, a hat for sun protection, and easy walking shoes. I advise sunscreen, too. I will provide a few snacks.