Associated Press Explores the Benefits of Forest Bathing with Shawn Ramsey

In March 2026, Associated Press national writer Allen G. Breed joined one of my guided forest bathing experiences at the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, North Carolina. Along with observing the experience, he spoke with participants about what brought them there and what they discovered by intentionally stepping away from the noise and distractions of everyday life.

The resulting AP feature explores forest bathing as a simple, accessible way to slow down, engage the senses, and reconnect with the natural world. During our time together, participants moved through the gardens at an unhurried pace, practiced meditation and breathing exercises, and explored sensory invitations designed to help them become more present to the environment around them.

As I shared with AP, there is a lot of stress, anxiety, and chaos in our lives today, and people are searching for ways to cope with it. Forest therapy doesn't require escaping to a remote wilderness. Even in an urban natural setting like the JC Raulston Arboretum, we can intentionally shift our attention to our breath, our footsteps, the sounds around us, and the rhythms of the natural world.

Perhaps the most meaningful reflections in the story came from the participants themselves.

Claire Jefferies described being in nature as feeling like “a protective bubble around me,” offering a temporary shield from the concerns and stresses waiting outside the garden.

Participant Alan Mintz reflected on the importance of spending time in natural spaces to unwind, appreciate beautiful things, and ultimately carry that sense of appreciation into our interactions with other people.

Claire also spoke about something at the heart of many of the experiences I guide: remembering that we are part of something larger than ourselves. She reflected on the interconnectedness visible throughout the natural world and the reminder that our own choices and actions matter, too.

Those reflections capture much of what I hope participants take away from forest therapy. It isn't simply about spending time outside. It's an opportunity to slow down enough to notice what is already around us, reconnect with ourselves and the natural world, and perhaps return to our everyday lives with a little more awareness, perspective, and calm.

Read the full Associated Press feature to learn more about the experience and the practice of forest bathing.

Click to read and/or watch the full Associated Press feature and learn more about the experience and the practice of forest bathing.‍ ‍