Take in the Medicine of the Forest.

Take in the Medicine of the Forest

Thursday August 12, 10 am -12:30

After this difficult and lonely year, join us in taking in the medicine of the forest. The Japanese developed this practice of shinrin-yoku, sometimes called “forest bathing,” but cultures everywhere have known about the healing energies of the natural world for centuries. Research confirms cultural wisdom, showing that Forest Bathing can offer relief from anxiety and depression and bring a deeper sense of relaxation, feeling of gratitude, and well-being. Engaging with the natural world in a mindful way also lowers blood pressure, heart rate and elevates NK cancer fighting cells in the body.

We invite you to join a small group of 12 or fewer participants in a Forest Bathing walk, a guided slow meander in the forest that helps you experience a deep and meaningful connection with the natural world. You’ll slow down, engage through your senses, and tap into these healing powers that are readily available to all of us.  

We’ve secured permits to conduct this walk at Roy’s Redwoods Preserve, 293 forested acres overlooking the San Geronimo Valley near Woodacre. We’ll walk under primeval groves of bay and redwood trees (the setting for George Lucas’ The Ewok Adventure) and experience the more-than-human world in a variety of ways. We will be covering less than a mile of distance, mostly in silence. There will be brief periods of sharing and a tea ceremony at the end of the walk with time for reflection and discussion.

In the spirit of celebrating connection after the isolation of the past year, EFM is offering this experience as a buy-one-give-one event. Your registration price both covers your experience and enabled a young person from one of Marin’s underserved communities to attend a forest bathing event at a separate time. Therefore, we are not providing our usual EFM membership discounts.

Our guide will be Joey (Iris) Heusler 

Tickets $50 each