Why I Guide Forest Therapy Walks

As I’ve gone through life, three streams converged to lead me to guiding Shinrin-Yoku walks:

1. Nature

2. Spirituality

3. Mindfulness.

From infancy, I’ve felt a deep connectio to nature. My earliest memories included planting seeds with my mother from those little seed packets. As I grew older, being outdoors became a needed escape where I found peace. Whether watching tiny beings in a tidepool, running (away) in the field behind our house, or laying on my back looking at the stars at night, I felt a connection and a feeling of peace and contentment.

My spiritual roots also run deep. In my early teenage years, a rip current pulled me out hundreds of yards into the ocean. As I stopped struggling and took stock of my situation, I was amazed that a river existed in the ocean that moved so fast. For an instant, I was actually grateful to experience it and immediately I dropped into a state of incredible calm where outward things slowed down. At the same time, my mind raced through images and stopped when I saw the headline of a newspaper article I’d read months earlier. It described how to escape rip currents and that information saved my life. In those brief seconds of total calm, I knew that something very special happened to me. In fact, now I believe that I connected directly to the Divine.

After college, I fell into the trap of the “production work mentality,” focusing on financial success and losing touch with my values. This led to depression. It wasn’t until 2018, at age 60, after being diagnosed with manic depression, that I began to reconnect with nature by cycling on trails. This rekindled my love for the outdoors and the peace it brings.

Around the same time, I began exploring mindfulness and meditation, which deepened my spiritual journey. Through meditation and a Rising Phoenix breathwork experience, I was able to reconnect with the calm serenity I felt during my ocean experience. I also developed the habit of looking out the window and observing nature in our back yard.I wanted to deepen my nature connection and share my passion with others. After doing a lot of research, Annika and I discovered the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, or Forest Bathing. Combining meditation and nature immersion, it not only has incredible health benefits, but it also helps people connect to the natural world differently. I enrolled in The Forest Therapy School and graduated, finding a way to live from my highest self while helping others do the same. The coursework included spending time in nature, observing its beings, and learning to guide Forest Therapy walks.

Guiding Shinrin-Yoku walks aligns with my love for nature, mindfulness and enriching my spiritual life. Through my walks, I create the space for my walkers to feel the peace and connection that I’ve found.

If you've enjoyed this blog and live or are traveling to the Kansas City area, please take a look at our Events Calendar for guided Forest Therapy walks.

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