Guided Forest Therapy Walks for NAU Employees

The staff here at EAW are aware of how hard NAU employees work and how tough the past 3 years have been for many of us.  We are grateful for your service and all that you give to NAU and its students and employees; we attempt to provide groups, workshops, and other experiences that help with work-related and other life stressors.  Forest therapy is the newest tool in EAW’s tool box.

What is Forest Therapy?

Forest therapy is a practice that involves taking a guided walk in the forest, slowly, with a structured series of invitations designed to help participants relax and connect with the forest and its creatures, with each other, and with themselves.  Forest therapy, as outlined by the Association for Nature and Forest Therapies (ANFT), arose from the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”; when one spends time in the forest, we are literally bathing in beneficial immunochemicals emitted by the trees (called phytoncides), which we absorb through breathing and through our skin.  Phytoncides have been linked to many beneficial health outcomes for humans, “especially in the cardiovascular and immune systems, and for stabilizing and improving mood and cognition”.

What can I expect on a Guided Forest Therapy Walk with Heather Nash?

Heather Nash is currently working toward becoming a certified Forest and Nature Therapy Guide through ANFT, so I she will be following the structured sequence as outlined by ANFT.  Walks for NAU employees take place on campus, are typically 1.25-1.5 hours in length, and involve walking approximately 0.5-1.0 miles total.  This is an open experience, where invitations are provided, but there are no real expectations about how to experience the time; your body knows best what to do, so when you’re unsure, you can listen to it!

What should I bring?

• Bring water and a small snack
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Wear clothing appropriate for the weather
• Bring or wear sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen

When is this happening?

Please check your EAW newsletter (in your inbox every other Tuesday) or our Upcoming Events page.

Additional questions?

Don’t hesitate to contact us at 928-523-1552 or email us at ask-eaw@nau.edu with any questions you might have.  You can also learn more about the practice and benefits of Forest Therapy at anft.earth.