Forest Therapy

Payments can be made in-person on the day of event or online here by selecting "Forest Therapy" from the drop down menu.

Date: July 6, 2019
Time: 10:00am
Cost: $25/person
Location: The Kensington Conservation Centre

Forest Therapy is based on the practice of Shinrin Yoku in Japan. It involves exploring the natural world through your senses and allowing the wisdom of wilderness to reveal itself. This practice has many health benefits including:

- Increased immune system functioning
- Improved mental clarity
- Decrease in stress hormones
- Decrease in blood pressure
- Improved mental health

Forest Therapy walks are gentle paced walks with many time to contemplate nature and yourself. A walk is generally 2-3 hours in length and involves a number of ‘invitations’ where you are provided with suggestions on how to explore different aspects of ourselves and the more than human world.

Your guide, Kristie Virgoe, is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide, trained by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides. She is also Chair of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance and Director, Stewardship & Conservation Lands at Kawartha Conservation. She is trained in the program framework to provide a safe space to help participants explore ways of deepening their relationship with nature in a way that is uniquely meaningful to them. In this practice, “the forest is the therapist and the guide opens the door.”