Forest Bathing for Busy Minds: A Summer Guide to Shinrin-Yoku
- John Burnett
- Aug 20, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 4, 2025
When summer arrives in the UK, many of us instinctively seek time outdoors. The long days, lighter evenings, and lush greenery invite us to pause, breathe, and reconnect with nature. For those juggling demanding roles, this reconnection isn’t just a pleasant escape. It can be a powerful therapeutic tool. Enter forest bathing, or Shinrin-Yoku, a Japanese practice that blends mindfulness and immersion in the natural world.
At Stone in My Boot, we bring this practice to life through our walking therapy retreats in the Lake District, creating space for calm, self-awareness, and emotional reset.
What is Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku)?
Despite the name, forest bathing doesn’t involve water. Instead, it is about bathing the senses in the atmosphere of the forest. Developed in Japan in the 1980s, Shinrin-Yoku has been studied extensively for its impact on stress, anxiety, and overall wellbeing.
The practice is simple yet profound. It involves slow walking, gentle breathing, mindful observation, and tuning into the sights, sounds, textures, and scents around you. Unlike a hike or workout, the focus isn’t on distance or speed but on presence and being grounded in nature.
Benefits of Forest Bathing for Stress and Anxiety
For busy minds, the evidence is clear:
Reduces cortisol levels -This lowers the stress hormone that fuels anxiety and burnout.
Improves focus and creativity - It gives space to problem-solve with clarity.
Supports emotional regulation - Calming racing thoughts helps manage feelings of overwhelm.
Strengthens mind-body connection - Encouraging grounding and presence is especially valuable in high-pressure roles.
Forest bathing acts as a natural reset button, a pause from constant digital notifications, lesson planning, deadlines, and business targets.
How to Build Simple Mindful Walks
The beauty of Shinrin-Yoku is its accessibility. You don’t need an ancient forest to benefit; you can create a micro-practice almost anywhere:
Choose a green space: A local park, riverside path, or woodland trail can work wonders.
Walk slowly and silently: Notice each step and the contact with the ground.
Engage the senses: Listen to birdsong, notice the patterns of leaves, and breathe deeply.
Pause often: Sit beneath a tree or by a stream and simply be.
Even a 20-minute mindful walk can create a ripple of calm that lasts the rest of the day.
Why Forest Therapy Works for Teachers & Professionals
Teachers: After months of giving, guiding, and managing, forest bathing creates restorative stillness that supports mental health and resilience.
Corporate Professionals: It counteracts the fast pace of meetings, emails, and targets with a slower, grounding rhythm.
Entrepreneurs: It provides perspective, creativity, and space for new ideas to surface away from daily pressures.
It is more than relaxation; it’s a practice that restores capacity for leadership, compassion, and focus.
Stone in My Boot’s Guided Walks in the Lake District
At Stone in My Boot, we weave forest bathing into our walking therapy retreats in the Lake District. Surrounded by ancient woodland, streams, and lakes, participants are guided through mindful walks that blend therapy, reflection, and connection with nature.
Our retreats offer guided forest therapy walks and on-trail counselling conversations in nature, led by experienced BACP registered practitioners. Our walking therapy retreats are a safe space to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with self and surroundings. Check out our videos here to see how the days are structured on these three-day walking therapy retreats, fully immersed in nature and the breathtaking landscapes and forests of the Lake District.
The Lake District’s landscapes are the perfect canvas for summer healing, helping busy minds find balance, clarity, and renewal. It is a great setting where you can sit and think, meditate, breathe in fresh air, block out external noise, and hear your thoughts out loud.
Exploring the Depths of Nature
As we delve deeper into the practice of forest bathing, we discover its layers of benefits. Each visit to nature can be a new experience. The sights, sounds, and smells shift with the seasons. This constant change can teach us about adaptability and resilience.
Creating Your Own Forest Bathing Ritual
Consider creating a personal ritual around your forest bathing practice. Perhaps you start each session with a moment of gratitude. Acknowledge the beauty around you and the peace you seek. This simple act can enhance your experience and deepen your connection to nature.
The Role of Community in Healing
Joining a group for forest bathing can amplify its benefits. Sharing the experience with others fosters a sense of belonging. It reminds us that we are not alone in our journeys. Together, we can support each other in finding calm and clarity.
Conclusion: Embracing Nature’s Healing Power
In conclusion, forest bathing is more than just a walk in the woods. It is a profound practice that can transform our mental and emotional wellbeing. As we embrace nature’s healing power, we open ourselves to new possibilities. Let’s take the first step together, whether in our local parks or the stunning landscapes of the Lake District.
A Gentle Invitation
If you are looking for ways to ease stress, restore calm, and nurture resilience this summer, consider forest bathing. Whether you begin with a mindful walk in your local park or join us for a walking therapy retreat, the practice invites you to step away from noise and reconnect with what matters most.
Comments