Spring Equinox Forest Bathing

Spring Equinox Forest Bathing Celebration

Celebrate the Spring Equinox as we welcome growth and change in the  coming season. An equinox is when a day is as equally long as the night -  a perfect balance between light and dark. Spring is also a time of  renewal and rebirth. We can continue to plant both real and symbolic  seeds for what we wish to grow and cultivate in the coming months. How  can we find balance in our own lives? Take part in a restorative and  relaxing Forest Bathing experience and tune in to the rhythms of nature.

The Selkie Collective

We will be providing locally made cake to compliment Isabel's tea  ceremony, and to make you feel extra special we'll be giving you some  Selkie gifts to help you pamper yourself when you get home.

About Isabel:

Isabel McLeish is an artist and a certified Forest Therapy Guide and Forest Therapy

Practitioner. She is based in Lochalsh, within the Wester Ross Biosphere and offers guided

experiences and creative workshops throughout the Highlands and beyond. Isabel often

facilitates sessions that are informed by the astronomical calendar, the earth festivals and

the lunar calendar to help deepen our connection to the rhythms of nature. She is

passionate about supporting health and wellbeing through green activities and creating

spaces where people can come together to slow down, tune-in, share ideas and celebrate

our local landscape.

Website: www.isabelmcleish.com

Instagram: @highlandforesttherapy

The Origins of Forest Bathing

‘Shinrin-yoku’ or ‘Forest Bathing’ originated in Japan in the  1980's  as a wellness practice for using our senses to connect to the  natural  world. Forest bathing does not involve any swimming! The idea of   ‘bathing’ comes from bathing your senses in the atmosphere of the   forest for relaxation and health care.  Isabel offers guided  nature  and forest experiences to help relax, relieve stress and invite  joy and  pleasure through a sensory connection with the natural world. A  forest  bathing experience focuses on slowing down, using techniques such  as  mindfulness and meditation and through a set of invitations, offers   ways of using our senses to deepen our connection to the land. There  are  also opportunities for sharing our experiences as part of the group  and  expressive arts can be incorporated into the practice through   sculpture, writing and poetry activities. A forest bathing experience  is  not a naturalist walk or a trek, it is an opportunity to use our  senses  so that we move out of our heads and into our bodies. Forest  bathing  enables people to tune in to the rhythms and seasons of nature  and the  experiences are not physically demanding and often finish with a  tea  ceremony.   Forest bathing is an evidence-based practice for   preventative healthcare and research has suggested that it can; lower   stress and anxiety, strengthen the immune system, lower blood pressure,   reduce our stress hormone cortisol, improve sleep and improve  cognitive  function such as memory and attention. Forest bathing is also  a social  practice, enabling the community to come together and connect  with the  local landscape and each other.

Isabel McLeish  is an artist and a certified Forest Therapy Guide and  Forest Therapy  Practitioner based in Lochalsh in the Scottish  Highlands. Isabel is also  trained in Emergency Outdoor First Aid and  has PVG disclosure.

Website: https://www.isabelmcleish.com/forest-bathing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highlandforesttherapy/