Ecotherapy &

Forest Bathing

Nature-Healing for a Stressed-Out World

Friday Forest Baths!

Every other Friday, 10am-11:30am in Berkeley

Begins Friday October 25th, 2024.

Join us for Friday morning forest baths in the redwoods to connect, unwind, and be inspired amidst other like-minded humans. Guided exercises will help you release tension and anxiety, so you can release the stress of the workweek and start your weekend off right!

Cost: Sliding Scale $50-$75/session, $450-$700 for 10-sessions.

Nature-Based Anxiety & Depression Support Group

Thursdays, 10am-12pm in Berkeley

Begins Thursday October 24th, 2024.

Start your day in nature to breathe, soak in the healing sounds & smells of the forest, and relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression in a facilitated group setting. Come as you are, and notice a new sense of connectedness and ease as you discover the power of spending time in community, outside.

Cost: Sliding Scale $550-$950 for 10-sessions.

What Participants are Saying

  • "Sammy’s sessions are clear, inclusive, and fun. Her facilitation is stellar and she explains everything so beautifully and deeply, in a way that's inviting and easy to follow. This group has helped me ground, and feel safe and held. I’m using the tools she’s taught me daily.”

    - Brittany, Redwood Roots Participant

  • "Sammy is a skilled facilitator who knows how to create a warm and welcoming container. She is incredibly well-versed in the anxiety management skills she interweaves with nature connection. The prompts and exercises she offers are grounded in principles that I can apply immediately in my life."

    - J, Redwood Roots participant

  • "I enjoy every session, and I love slowing down and connecting to nature. Sammy creates a very calm and welcoming space. I can really feel her presence when listening, and she does a great job of keeping us on time to execute her vision for each session."

    -Erin, Redwood Roots Participant

  • "It lowers my anxiety a lot and calms me down after my commute and work day. I find the setting in the majestic redwood grove, along with Sammy's calming facilitation, to really blend together what we're learning into a wonderful, holistic experience that stays with me after each session."

    -Vince, Redwood Roots Participant

What is Forest Bathing?

Forest Bathing (from the Japanese term shinrin yoku) is an emerging practice in the rapidly growing field of Ecotherapy, which explores the ways in which humans are influenced by spending time in nature. Given that we are an integral part of the web of life, forest bathing works on the principle that our psyches (and our sense of well-being) are deeply intertwined with the living world, and recognizes that personal and planetary well-being are inseparable from one another.

Practices often include slowing down to reflect and connect with the Earth and its elements, while leaning into nature’s ability to help us self-regulate. Benefits include improved mental clarity, nervous system regulation, and sense of inspiration and purpose. In effect, by coming back into reciprocal connection with the natural world, we heal not only ourselves, but also the whole ecosystem.

Why Forest Bathing?

Forest bathing offers a unique and beautiful pathway toward connecting with nature as a source of calm, healing, and relationship with the living world. It encourages us to look at nature as a mirror, thus encouraging us to receive insight, and discover inspiration. Forest bathing also invites us to experience the fullness of our emotions in a safe, nonjudgmental, expansive container while learning what we really need in order to discover our purpose and balance our busy lives. Through guided exercises that encourage us to slow down and breathe in the naturally healing benefits of nature, forest bathing offers the support we truly need to live life to its fullest.

The Science

A growing body of research highlights the positive benefits of connecting with nature. In 2007 researchers at the University of Essex found that 90% of a test group suffering from depression felt higher self-esteem after a walk through a country park, and almost 75% felt less depressed. Another survey by the same research team found that 94% of people with mental illnesses believed that contact with nature put them in a more positive mood.

More benefits can include…

  • Physical health benefits such as decreased heart rate & cortisol levels, better sleep, and a boost to immunity.

  • Improved signals of mental health including improved focus, clarity, decision-making, and self-esteem.

  • Emotional regulation, healing from trauma, and a greater sense of purpose & trust in life.

Who Can Benefit?

Forest bathing will often benefit you if you are struggling with any of the following human experiences:

  • Stress & Overwhelm

  • Anxiety & Panic Attacks

  • Depression & Loneliness

  • Grief & Loss

  • Insomnia & Addiction

  • Exhaustion & Burnout

  • Lack of Clarity or Purpose

  • Climate Anxiety & Eco-Grief

Techniques include but are not limited to:

  • Guided Mindfulness & Sensory Awareness

  • Somatic Work & Embodiment Practices (i.e. walking barefoot & exploring textures)

  • Breathwork Exercises & other Tension-Relief Techniques

  • Working with Herbs & Plant Medicine

  • Equine Therapy (and other animal-assisted therapies)

  • Earth Rituals & Prayer (i.e. creating altars or mandalas & conversing with trees )

  • Shamanic Drumming

  • Childlike Play & Games (great for all ages!)

There is no end to the benefits forest bathing can offer. And best of all, it’s fun!

Want to learn more? Reach out to schedule a free consult today!

"I have struggled with anxiety all my life. Being in Redwood Roots has allowed me to acquire skills for regulating my nervous system and managing my anxiety. I would highly recommend a SoulLight Ecotherapy group for anyone who is struggling with anxiety. It has been instrumental in helping me improve my mental health and live the life I want to live!" - J, Redwood Roots Participant

"I had been stuck in an anxious rut and wasn't getting outside, even though I knew I needed to. Since joining SoulLight’s forest bathing group, I've gotten outside more times in four weeks than I did all of last year! I'm feeling so much more spacious and alive by renewing my relationship to nature. And I’m using the tools daily."

- Brittany, Redwood Roots Participant