Forest Bathing | Mind In2 Action

Forest Bathing & Nature-Based Well-being

In a world where many people spend their working lives indoors, overstimulated, and disconnected from themselves, nature offers a powerful opportunity to slow down, regulate, and reconnect. Forest Bathing, originally known as Shinrin-Yoku in Japan, is not about hiking or physical endurance — it is the gentle practice of intentionally immersing ourselves in the natural world through our senses, allowing the mind and body space to rest, restore, and rebalance.

Here in Wales, we hold a deep cultural connection to the land, forests, and mountains around us. There is a Welsh phrase, “Dod yn ôl at fy nghoed,” which translates as “coming back to my trees.” Traditionally, it describes returning to oneself, regaining clarity, or feeling grounded again after stress or overwhelm. We feel this beautifully reflects the essence of forest bathing and our own approach to well-being — supporting people to reconnect with themselves, each other, and the natural world in a meaningful and restorative way.

Rooted in our V.I.T.A. Life principles, our nature-based experiences encourage individuals and teams to step away from constant pressure and rediscover moments of calm, presence, connection, and reflection. Through guided invitations, grounding practices, mindful movement, breathwork, creativity, and shared experiences in nature, staff are supported to decompress in a safe and nurturing environment.

These experiences can have a profound impact on both emotional and physical well-being. Spending time in natural environments has been shown to reduce stress, support nervous system regulation, improve mood, increase focus and creativity, and enhance overall resilience. Many people also notice improvements in sleep, energy levels, emotional balance, and their sense of connection with themselves and others.

For teams, nature-based experiences can gently strengthen communication, empathy, trust, and cohesion. When people are removed from the pressures and hierarchy of the workplace, there is often greater openness, authenticity, and understanding. Shared experiences in nature can help teams reconnect with their values, strengthen relationships, and create a renewed sense of identity and belonging.

Our outdoor well-being experiences can also form part of a wider staff well-being, retention, or professional development programme. We can work collaboratively alongside leadership teams and HR departments to create tailored experiences that support staff needs, organisational values, and long-term workplace well-being goals.

At present, Bev is completing her Level 2 Forest Bathing Practitioner certification with Nature & Therapy - Forest Bathing Training & Ecotherapy and will continue on to complete Level 3 training in September 2026, working towards International Forest Guide status. This ongoing training reflects our commitment to offering evidence-informed, meaningful, and ethically grounded experiences that honour both people and nature.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is pause, breathe deeply, and allow nature to guide us gently back to ourselves — to come back to our trees.