Site icon Kessi World

Forest bathing near me

Matthew
Forest Bathing is easy to do in the Pacific Northwest, like this scene here deep in a forest with a wooden bridge crossing a creek with moss lined trees hanging over.

Forest bathing near me — all the best information

Mystic guide to “Forest bathing near me” to quiet your mind, manage your emotions better, and trust your intuition more. Includes how to find the best locations, important questions to ask, and practice videos.

This guide to “Forest bathing near me” is best for:

Table of Contents: All the best information for Forest Bathing.

Why engage Forest Bathing?  

Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is a concept that originated in Japan in the 1980s as its population migrated from rural to urban living to support a booming economy based on manufacturing and technology. However, in this transition, companies found that their employees were prone to sickness and burnout.

Japan’s government commissioned studies to get to the root problem. They found empirical proof that a mindful re-connection to the Natural World worked well as a remedy against the stress of daily life in a demanding corporate environment.

The concept of “forest bathing” comes from the phytoncides and other essential oils emitted from forest trees. They quite literally rain down. Several studies have shown that the fragrance of phytoncides reduces stress and promotes immunocyte growth, including natural killer (NK) cells.

Furthermore, a growing body of research points to the beneficial effects of exposure to the Natural World on health, reducing stress, and promoting healing. Some studies further clarify that only 20 minutes daily (of immersive Natural experiences) are essential to producing lasting benefits such as lower blood pressure, higher concentration, improved mental health, regulating cortisol levels, neutralizing inflammation, and even higher sexual satisfaction.

What about other Forest Bathing resources?

Why should you listen to Matthew Kessi (that’s me) about Nature Connection?

While I’m not Japanese, I’ve spent a lifetime leading myself and others into the Natural World. My gifts as a practical mystic help me guide people to deepen their Nature Connection in ways that can help them quiet their minds, regulate emotions, and trust their intuition more.

A practical mystic is a person able to bridge the magic between Nature’s Intelligence and daily life. This work uses the mystery to make constructive and tangible changes to daily life scenarios. Consider me a translator of Nature’s energy or a guide to safely engaging an altered state of healing, growing, or awakening to your true purpose in life–also known as high-octane Forest Bathing.

Another tenant of practical mysticism is that we all possess gifts and talents to connect with the mystery of the Natural World. If you don’t feel unique gifts or intuition right now, it could be as simple as learning to “reawaken” that part of your inner self. This is where I’m trained to help you.

“Matthew Kessi is gentle, kind and compassionate. These three qualities alone make him an excellent guide in the outer and inner worlds. How these virtues become exceptional has to do with the what he attracts to him from Nature: the spirits of land and place. If you are seeking something deeper than sightseeing, Matthew is your person. He’ll take you to places on the land and in yourself that are truly remarkable.”

Patrick O’Neill | The Four Directions

For example, part of my practice includes facilitating Nature Connection Retreats on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. These three-day immersions include time on a private beach near Olympic National Park. A high-powered version of Forest Bathing, these experiences allow participants to see themselves (their own wild Nature) more clearly in ways that make lasting changes.

The program is based on several fundamentals of Nature Connection that I will briefly discuss later in this article–as they apply to finding Forest Bathing Near Me. If you’re interested in more details on questions to ask yourself to make a deeper nature connection, check out this article or watch one of my Nature Connection Videos on YouTube, including this experience about finding your true wild Nature in the Rainforest near Lake Quinault in Olympic National Park.

Ultimately, I see consistent results with my retreat participants harnessing Nature’s power to unlock powerful self-clarity in their daily lives. Forever changed, they find practical (and more intimate) ways to include the Natural World daily. A great way to enjoy tangible success with self-clarity is through regular Forest Bathing.

What is Nature’s Intelligence?

You know it when you feel it. Nature’s intelligence is your connection to a technicolor sunset or the comfort of flowers on a challenging day. It can be a divine-like awareness that everything will be okay. Nature’s intelligence is unexplainable in ordinary human language because it encompasses many different planes of intuition and consciousness while inspiring creative and wise parts of you to “wake up.” That’s why you’ve probably heard phrases like, “I need to walk to clear my head.” Another way to look at this “waking up” is learning to see yourself more clearly—what impedes, supports, and transforms you.

Forest Bathing near me in Seattle?

Nature’s Intelligence abounds in the Emerald City. Although we’re known for a variety of attractions, you may not have considered an adventure going Forest Bathing in the rain. Check out this article with my favorite mystic places to go to enjoy Shinrin Yoku in and around Seattle. Don’t worry, these locations are still wonderful without the liquid sunshine!

How much time do you need for Forest Bathing?

My guided Nature Connection walks occur in the Washington Arboretum in Seattle and are scheduled for two hours. This is an excellent amount of time for people with busy daily lives to slow down enough to feel the benefits of Forest Bathing. Clients leave feeling relaxed, with tangible healing, wellness, and empowerment insights into their daily lives.

But it might be a stretch to try to engage in a two-hour experience on your own–especially for a beginner. Start where you can manage, even if that’s five minutes of looking at a plant in your home. Try to work your way up to twenty minutes of uninterrupted meditation, contemplation, or general connection.

Twenty minutes is also the estimated time for your energetic field to calm down–think like ripples in a bathtub–to equilibrium. If you engage in Forest Bathing at a favorite location by walking around and taking in the land’s energy. At some point, you’ll want to stop and stay put for at least twenty minutes to deepen the stillness experience.

When your energetic field balances, animals become curious, as do land spirits. This is where Nature’s Intelligence begins to serve you more powerful experiences that engage the self-clarity needed to embrace feelings of belonging, resilience, and purpose.

Join me for a Mystic Nature Walk in Seattle:

  1. Experience a super-charged version of Forest Bathing.
  2. Two hours with a private mystic guide.
  3. Magical beauty of Seattle’s flagship Arboretum.
  4. Leave with more self-clarity about your daily life.
  5. Learn tools to engage your own Nature Connection.

How do you get started with Shinrin Yoku? 

The key to forest bathing is making a mindful nature connection. It can be as simple as asking yourself six questions:

1. How do I want to opt into Forest Bathing today?

    This is about saying “yes” to being a part of Nature rather than a tourist passing through. You should make a gesture to show appreciation to your environment.

    2. How can I “plug in” to the more profound benefits of the Natural World?

    Imagine opening up all the aspects of your inner self. How can your thoughts align with Nature? What about your emotions/feelings? Do you have gut instincts that need dusting off?  

    3. What can help me stay present in this Forest Bathing experience?

    A plan to resist distractions is essential to a lasting Nature Connection. Opening up your senses to the environment can help you maintain focus. What are the scene’s smells, colors, textures, sounds, and tastes? It can also be helpful to be aware of and acknowledge your fears, which may arise when you least suspect them.

    Helpful hints for keeping present in nature:

    • Begin your experience by making a friend in nature, like a particular leaf or flower. Imprint this in your mind as a helper and refer back when you need grounding.
    • Imagine distractions as a spring in your mind that you can slowly unravel to a place where there is no longer tension. Then, let them fall out of focus.
    • Allow fears to flow through your consciousness like clouds in the sky—drifting away.

    Questions to ask when engaging Shinrin Yoku (continued)

    4. What is my Natural pace?

    Think of movements in the outdoors that feel particularly captivating. They can be invaluable in resetting your pace. Things like the flow of waves crashing on a beach, your resting heart rate (about a beat per second), or the motion of koi in a Japanese-themed garden. In general, Nature moves from slow to medium. It’s essential to consider both your physical and inner pace. 

    5. What do I notice?

    This is the opportunity to allow your Forest Bathing experience to engage a more profound sense of connection by paying attention to all the potential symbols around you. For instance, how does a fragrant flower smell open your heart? What do you feel when you follow an ancient tree’s tall, gnarly trunk to the branches waving in the gentle wind? 

    6. How can I reflect and integrate this Forest Bathing experience?

    What surprised you about this Nature Connection opportunity? Check-in with your thoughts, feelings, and instincts. What are a few things you’ll choose to remember? 

    Generally, these questions are meant for real-time consideration as you wander through a Forest Bathing experience. However, if you’re new to a deeper, more mindful Nature Connection, you may jot down a few notes beforehand. Especially questions about your plan to keep present, including understanding your fears. This will help you keep focused in the moment. 

    How to find an excellent location for Forest Bathing Near Me?

    Nature is omnipresent, and opportunities to connect more deeply are like tapping into a wifi network when you go to a coffee shop. You don’t need “social media natural beauty” to feel belonging, resilience, and purpose in a shinrin yoku experience. Here are a few steps to find an excellent location for Forest Bathing Near Me:

    With minimal barriers, what place can I access for a regular forest bathing practice?  

    A Nature Connection’s physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental benefits become more powerful when you can engage your environment at least 20 minutes a day or two hours weekly. Is there a neighborhood park that you enjoy? Is there a waterfront walking trail near your job where you can get away at lunch? Avoiding a stressful transit to reach a Forest Bathing location is helpful. Consider these factors.

    If you have to drive two hours to a hiking location, ask yourself if this is a sustainable practice for the circumstances of your life. Such a location could be a weekend enjoyment with more regular weekday visits to walkable parks.  

    Which places help me to slow down and relax?

    Avoid distractions, especially when new to Forest Bathing. This might include walking pets. A squirrel-chasing pup might not be the best Nature Connection buddy at a particular moment. Or choosing a busy hiking trail on a Saturday morning. 

    While linear trails are becoming more prominent in many places, be mindful of potential distractions. Are there trail offshoots where you can wander off the main pathway? There may be benches to use that face away from the busyness. 

    Remember, the concept of Forest Bathing is about slowing down to take in the essential healing aspects of the land. Therefore, embarking on a five-mile out-and-back trail might negate the benefits you seek. In other words, do a different exercise activity and keep your Nature Connection distance short and straightforward. 

    Where does my instinct tell me to go for forest bathing near me?

    In many circumstances of daily life, we’re encouraged to go against our intuition for the sake of other incentives. But we each hold a powerful spirit within, guiding us. Try a little exercise at home to flex your gut instincts around a physical location for Forest Bathing Near Me. 

    Ask yourself, “What do I need today?” Ask the land you live on, “What would be best for my Nature Connection this week?” Sit with this question in as quiet of a mode as possible. You might not get an obvious answer, and that’s okay. Keep asking the questions. Glance at the nearby green spaces online and see if anything “pings” you. Trust your curiosity and instincts and give something a try. 

    How do I find Forest Bathing locations Near Me when traveling?

    Public access to Nature goes well beyond the famous National and State Parks. Locations less celebrated on social media mean fewer people and more convenient options. For example, even though my Nature Connection Retreats are mere steps away from Olympic National Park (which is fantastic), many other public options exist in the region. 

    At the time of this writing, I’ve recently traveled around the Pacific Northwest to spend time with family and friends. Here are examples of local forest bathing options waiting to be explored based on my particular routing:

    • West Hylebos Wetlands Park—Federal Way (also included in this article)
    • Nisqually Nature Preserve—Near Olympia 
    • Crown Z Linear Trail—Scappoose to Vernonia (I like to start in the middle at the Nehalem Divide)
    • Willapa Hills State Park Trail—Chehalis to South Bend, WA
    • Westport Light Boardwalk Trail—Westport, WA
    • Olympic Discovery Trail—Port Angeles, WA

    Many of these are relatively flat and mostly host local people wanting to get out into the elements near their homes. If you are curious about what options might be available to you, consider searching online using these terms:

    • “Linear Trails near me”
    • “Conservation areas near me”
    • “Conservation area _______ county (or ________ city)”

    When looking for exploration, I also pull an online map and zoom in on green spaces. Usually, the names of parks and trails pop up along the way. 

    Are you traveling to, or in the Pacific Northwest?

    If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, you might also consider a gander at the plethora of articles about parks and gardens in Washington and Oregon — where I write about all my favorite enchanting places to visit, including maps of popular areas like the Oregon Coast and Olympic Peninsula.

    Suppose you’re curious about what Forest Bathing locations might be beneficial for a deeper Nature Connection. In that case, I offer a YouTube series of Guided Nature Connection videos. They are a mystic hybrid of meditation, contemplation, and enchantment—always in beautiful locations. The 20-minute dose is enough to maintain a strong connection with the Natural World when you cannot get outdoors daily.

    Here is an example of a recent Guided Nature Connection video on my YouTube channel:

    What do I wear for Forest Bathing near me? 

    The key is to be comfortable so you don’t get distracted by temperature, texture, or the elements. Wear layers of clothing and waterproof footwear in the wet seasons. My rule is to wear one more layer than I’ll need. When I lead clients on guided Nature Connection walks in a local Seattle park, I bring mats for them to use when sitting down–always be prepared for the elements. 

    What should I bring for Forest Bathing near me?

    Traditional shinrin yoku usually includes a tea ceremony after the experience. Sometimes, this includes snacks and a reflection on the Nature Connection. Create your own gestures of gratitude to the land and to yourself for choosing to show up and be present in the outdoors. 

    It is helpful to have a backpack with essential items like water, snacks, sunscreen–and proper safety gear if venturing into more remote wilderness areas. A journal helps jot down notes and reflections in real time during your forest bathing experience. 

    What about other Forest Bathing resources?

    Here are a few other resources for information on Shinrin Yoku:

    What if I can’t get outside to go Forest Bathing?

    While I’ll always advocate for experiences in person on the land, if you’re not able to engage shinrin yoku in the Great Outdoors, consider watching my series of Nature Connection videos on YouTube.

    The 20-minute Guided Nature Connections are more than soul-inspiring nature scenes and calming sounds. It’s all about getting out of your head and into your own wild Nature—which is self-clarity. In proven, practical methods, you will learn to quiet your mind, open your heart, and allow your intuition to flow. And that’s just the starting point! 

    All the footage is original, real-time mystic work in progress. There are no scripts or re-takes. By saying yes to this meditation experience, you open up to an exciting and powerful virtual Forest Bathing opportunity. 

    This is like any relationship that organically grows. You might not feel “anything” after the first few minutes. Then, perhaps it begins with a quieter mind, reduced anxiety, or a well-deserved 20-minute daily pause. Then… curiosity? 

    Or, it may seem like you already know everything about this relationship. But—with a willingness to bring fresh eyes to Nature’s version of belonging, resilience, and purpose—the results can surprise you.

    Give virtual Forest Bathing a try with the three-part series working with the land spirits around Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park.

    This Guided Nature Connection experience, “How the Forest Empowers Metamorphosis,” takes place on the Spruce Railroad linear trail along the banks of Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. It represents a Natural World conversation about transforming your life by acknowledging your inner courage, letting go of the past, and embracing your creativity, trust, and passion to write the next chapter of your life. Using brooding footage of a winter forest scene, we ask questions and ponder the answers.

    Exit mobile version