Forest Bathing: The Nature Therapy Trend You Need to Try in 2025
You're walking through a grove of towering oaks, their branches creating a natural cathedral above your head. Dappled sunlight filters through the leaves, painting golden patterns on the forest floor. The air is cool and still, carrying the earthy scent of moss and fallen leaves. Your phone is tucked away, your to-do list forgotten. For the first time in weeks, you're simply here, breathing deeply and feeling your shoulders drop away from your ears.
This isn't just a nature walk—it's forest bathing, a mindful wellness practice that's captivating hearts and minds across America in 2025. As we collectively seek refuge from our hyperconnected world, this gentle form of nature therapy offers something profound: the radical act of simply being present in the natural world.
What if nature could be your most affordable and accessible form of self-care? What if the remedy for our modern overwhelm was as simple as spending intentional time among trees?
What Is Forest Bathing?
Forest bathing, known in Japan as "Shinrin-yoku", translates literally to "taking in the forest atmosphere". Developed in the 1980s as a cornerstone of Japanese preventive healthcare, this practice involves mindfully immersing yourself in nature—not hiking for fitness, not rushing to reach a destination, but simply existing in harmony with the forest environment.
Think of it as meditation in motion, or perhaps meditation in stillness. Forest bathing is about presence, not performance. There are no fitness trackers involved, no summit to reach, and no Instagram-worthy shots to capture. Instead, it's an invitation to slow down, tune in, and reconnect with the natural rhythms that our bodies instinctively understand.
The practice has found fertile ground in America's growing eco-wellness and slow living movements. As more women seek meaningful ways to disconnect from digital overwhelm and reconnect with themselves, forest bathing offers a refreshingly simple answer that doesn't require expensive equipment, specialised training, or even perfect weather.
Why Forest Bathing Is Gaining Momentum in 2025
The timing couldn't be more perfect for forest bathing to flourish in American wellness culture. Research from Japan's National Institute of Public Health and universities worldwide has explored how intentional time in forest environments may support our overall sense of well-being. Studies have observed participants experiencing deeper relaxation, improved focus, and enhanced feelings of vitality after forest bathing sessions.
Dr. Qing Li, a leading researcher in forest medicine, has noted that spending mindful time in nature allows our nervous systems to shift into a more restful state, moving away from the constant alertness our modern lives demand. The practice seems to offer what many of us desperately need: permission to pause, breathe, and remember that we're part of something larger than our daily responsibilities.
This resonates deeply with the cultural shifts we're witnessing in 2025. More women are prioritising screen breaks as part of their wellness routines, recognising that constant connectivity can leave us feeling scattered and depleted. There's also a growing desire for eco-conscious habits that don't just benefit our personal well-being but also nurture our relationship with the environment.
Perhaps most appealingly, forest bathing requires no special memberships, expensive gear, or complicated schedules. In a time when many wellness practices can feel exclusive or financially demanding, the forest offers its gifts freely to anyone willing to show up with an open heart and curious mind.
How to Try Forest Bathing — Even If You're a Beginner
Ready to dip your toes into this gentle practice? Forest bathing is beautifully accessible, whether you're a nature enthusiast or someone who typically prefers indoor activities. The key is approaching it with a beginner's mind—fresh, curious, and free from expectations.
Step into nature with no agenda. Leave your fitness goals at home. This isn't about burning calories or conquering miles. Walk slowly, allowing your pace to naturally match the unhurried rhythm of the forest. Notice how different this feels from your usual purposeful stride. Let yourself meander, pause whenever something catches your attention, and resist the urge to make progress toward any particular destination.
Engage all your senses fully. Our daily lives often rely heavily on sight and sound, but the forest offers a rich sensory buffet. Breathe deeply and notice the complex layers of scent—pine needles, damp earth, flowering plants. Run your hands along the rough bark of trees, feeling their unique textures and temperatures. Listen not just to obvious sounds like birdsong, but to the subtle symphony of wind through leaves, insects humming, and your own footsteps on the forest floor.
Leave your phone in your bag or pocket. This might feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you're used to documenting every experience. But forest bathing thrives in the space that opens up when we're not filtering our experience through a screen. If you feel anxious without your phone readily available, start with short sessions and gradually extend the time as you become more comfortable with undivided presence.
Practice the art of forest sitting. Find a spot that calls to you—perhaps beneath a particularly majestic tree or beside a babbling creek. Sit comfortably and simply observe. Watch how light moves through the canopy, how insects go about their business, and how plants sway in the breeze. This isn't meditation with specific techniques; it's simply allowing yourself to be part of the forest's ongoing story.
Embrace solitude or find a mindful companion. Forest bathing can be deeply nourishing as a solo practice, offering rare opportunities for self-reflection without external input. However, sharing the experience with a like-minded friend or family member can also be beautiful, as long as you both commit to minimising conversation and maximising presence. Some couples find that forest bathing together creates a unique form of intimacy—sharing wonder without the need for words.
Adapt to your local landscape. No old-growth forest nearby? No problem. Urban parks, botanical gardens, tree-lined neighbourhoods, or even a single large tree in your backyard can serve as your forest bathing sanctuary. The practice is about quality of attention, not quantity of trees. Even a small green space can offer the gifts of nature connection when approached with intention and openness.
What You'll Need (and What You Don't)
The beauty of forest bathing lies in its simplicity. Here's everything you need to get started:
Comfortable, weather-appropriate shoes that you don't mind getting a little dirty. You'll want to feel stable and grounded as you explore different terrains.
Layered clothing that allows you to adjust to changing temperatures as you move between sunny clearings and shaded groves.
A water bottle to stay hydrated, especially during longer sessions or in warmer weather.
An optional journal for capturing insights or reflections that arise during your time in nature, though only if writing feels natural rather than obligatory.
A simple camera if you're drawn to mindful photography, using it as another way to slow down and really notice details rather than rushing to document everything.
What you absolutely don't need: fitness apps, step counters, rigid schedules, or any pressure to make the experience productive in conventional terms. Forest bathing is about embracing non-doing as a form of deep nourishment.
Your Invitation to Begin
The forest is always there, waiting patiently for us to remember that we belong to something bigger than our busy lives. Forest bathing reminds us that healing and restoration don't always require complex solutions or expensive interventions—sometimes they're as simple as standing still among trees and remembering how to breathe.
Whether you have five minutes in a neighbourhood park or a whole afternoon in a vast woodland, the practice adapts to your reality. Start where you are, with what you have, and trust that nature will meet you exactly where you need to be met.
This weekend, consider giving yourself the gift of forest bathing. Find your nearest green space, tuck your phone away, and step into the gentle embrace of the natural world. Notice what shifts within you when you allow yourself to simply be present with the trees, the sky, and the ancient wisdom that flows through all living things.
Your only job is to show up with an open heart and curious senses. The forest will handle the rest.
Ready to explore more nature-based wellness practices? Discover our guides to outdoor mindfulness rituals, eco-friendly wellness practices, and creating sacred space in your backyard sanctuary.
