WPTF Explores the Science and Benefits of Forest Bathing with Shawn Ramsey

Following the Associated Press feature on forest bathing, WPTF invited certified forest therapy guide Shawn Ramsey to talk more about the practice, its origins, and why more people are turning to nature as a refuge from the stress and anxiety of everyday life.

During the interview, Shawn explores the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, and some of the growing body of research into the potential physical and emotional benefits of spending intentional time in nature. Studies have documented benefits that may include lower blood pressure, reductions in stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, and improvements in mood and emotional well-being.

Shawn also discusses something she often observes firsthand: a noticeable shift in participants as they slow down and settle into the experience. Forest therapy can help support the nervous system in moving away from the heightened "fight or flight" response toward a calmer, more balanced state.

But forest bathing isn't simply about being outdoors. Shawn explains how she encourages participants to symbolically leave their stress and worries at the garden gate or forest entrance before beginning. She then guides them through a sensory awakening meditation designed to engage the senses, including imagination, before offering a series of gentle invitations that create opportunities to slow down, notice more, and connect more deeply with the natural world.

The conversation offers a closer look at both the science and the experience of forest bathing, and why something as seemingly simple as slowing down and paying attention to the natural world can feel increasingly valuable in our fast-paced, often stressful lives.

Listen to the WPTF interview to learn more about the history, science, and practice of forest bathing here.