What is Shinrin Yoku?
“Into the forest I go, to lose my mind & find my soul”.
– John Muir
Are you...feeling depressed, depleted or disconnected? Needing clarity or guidance? Fatigued from carrying the sadness of the world in your heart? Longing for connection to the Natural World and to other people? Living your joy, but ready for even more? Tap into the Wisdom of the Woods through Shinrin Yoku Forest Therapy!
Shinrin Yoku, which is more commonly known as "Forest Bathing", is a mindfulness practice that originated in Japan that takes participants along a slow, gentle, sensory journey through a wooded or natural space. A Standard Sequence is followed that is aimed at bringing participants out of their heads and back into their bodies, all while enjoying the nurturing embrace of nature. Shinrin Yoku has been practiced in Japan for over a decade and it is common there for doctors to prescribe Shinrin Yoku walks to their patients. It has been clinically proven to have a positive effect on our overall health and well-being, including increasing the body’s immunity response through the formation of Natural Killer Cells, lowering blood pressure and creating an overall “re-set” to the mind, body and soul.
Sally Wren is a trained Shinrin Yoku Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT), the first certifying organization in the world that is now recognized as the international leader in this burgeoning field. In 2018 she completed an intensive week-long training in California, followed by a six-month practicum experience, preparing her to work in collaboration with the Natural World to bring you an experience you won’t soon forget. She will "open the door" by providing a series of invitations intended to slow you down and bring you back into your body, and the forest will "provide you the medicine you need".
Walks typically last 2 - 2 ½ hours in length, usually do not involve a lot of walking and culminate with tea and snacks shared in the forest. Each walk is unique and different, although the Standard Sequence is always followed, providing a soft structure to the walk that allows participants to drop into the experience. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and a sun hat, bring a water bottle and be dressed for the current season (with an additional layer to add in the fall and winter, if it gets cool). Sally Wren’s guided walks are designed for adults, children 12 years and older (although babies in baby carriers are always welcome). Custom 1-on-1, Forest Tarot, Full Moon & private/group family walks can be arranged for children and adults across the age span and mobility levels. Sally Wren also offers scheduled walks for the general community through the ABQ Open Spaces / Parks & Rec and these walks will be specifically noted on the website.
Please contact Sally Wren via email at thewonderpath@gmail.com or by texting/calling #505.259.2133 for more information or to set up a unique Shinrin Yoku walk that fits your needs &/or special occasion!
To learn more about the practice of Shinrin Yoku please visit:
Shirin-Yoku: Why Forest Bathing Became a Global Health Phenomenon - American Forests
Take a Walk in the Woods. Doctor’s Orders. - The New York Times (nytimes.com)