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POWNAL — Jeanne Christie, a certified forest therapy guide, will leade two walks in woods, once with dogs, at Bradbury Mountain State Part Saturday, Dec. 21.
Shinrin-yoku, “taking in the forest,” has been practiced in Japan since the 1980s and is a growing practice throughout the U.S. It is also know as forest bathing and forest therapy, though no therapist is on hand — other than nature — and no bathing, other than immersion in nature, takes place. The benefits of forest therapy include relaxation and stress reduction, a boosted feeling of well-being, improved mood, increased attention and focus, and increased resistance to infections.
Scientific evidence supports these findings and more and more doctors are writing health prescriptions that include requiring patients to get outside and into parks for nature immersion sessions.
Christie, who is also a registered Maine Guide and award-winning wetlands preservation professional, was lauded as one of “Ten Most Intriguing People in Maine” by the Portland Magazine, Christie says though she enjoys many outdoor pursuits, hiking, running trails, photography, anoeing and cross country skiing among them, she most enjoys guiding people on forest therapy sessions because “it brings people into the present moment and all the rich sensory information we tend to tune out. It reconnects us with trees and plants and birds and animals and also with ourselves. Our connection with the natural world is one of the most important parts of who we are – individually and collectively. In this day and age, it’s hard to hold onto that.”
Her sessions are from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for dog owners and 1 to 3:45 p.m. for those without dogs.
There is a fee for the session, which includes the day use free for the park. For those bringing their furry companion, click here to register and for more information; for those who’d like to attend the afternoon session, click here to register and for more information.
Learn more about Jeanne Christie at www.ConnectToWilderness.com
