Exploring Forest Therapy

Step Into the Quiet

Imagine a place where the noise softens. Where the trees breathe slowly, the air carries stories, and the earth beneath you hums with life. This is forest therapy—a practice of slowing down, tuning in, and letting nature hold you. In St. Louis, this isn’t just a dream. It’s a living invitation.

What Is Forest Therapy?

Forest therapy comes from the practice of forest bathing known as shinrin-yoku, which began in Japan as a way to ease the strain of modern life. Today, forest therapy is a gentle practice of guided presence in nature—an invitation to engage your senses and reconnect with the living world around you.

A session may include:

• Slow, mindful wandering

• Touching bark, listening to birdsong

• Breathing with the rhythm of the forest

• Sharing what you notice—in words, gestures, or silence

Each walk is shaped by your pace, your noticing, your way of being.

Why It Matters

Forest therapy isn’t about fixing—it’s about feeling. Time in nature can:

• Ease stress and calm the nervous system

• Lift mood and soften anxiety

• Clear mental clutter and renew focus

• Spark creativity and fresh insight

• Support sleep, heart health, and overall well-being

How to Begin

You can start by joining a guided walk—public or private. Private sessions are curated for couples, families, or small groups, offering space for celebration, healing, or quiet togetherness.

To prepare:

• Dress for comfort and weather

• Leave your phone behind or silence it

• Bring openness, curiosity, and a willingness to slow down

Practicing on Your Own

Even without a guide, you can step into forest therapy:

• Visit a nearby park or wooded trail

• Set aside time—30 minutes is enough

• Engage your senses: feel, listen, smell, notice

• Reflect afterward—perhaps with a journal

• Return often; let it become a rhythm

Nature Is Waiting

St. Louis holds over 16,000 acres of parkland—spaces where forest therapy can unfold. Whether you seek clarity, connection, or simply a breath of peace, the forest is ready to meet you.

So come. Step into the understory. Let the land speak, and let yourself listen.

Trailhead bridge at Emmenegger Nature Park in Sunset Hills, MO.