Brought to you by In My Nature, Victorian Aboriginal Health, Yarra Libraries and The Ewing Trust.

As part of Mental Health Week, this episode gives the listener permission to slow down and immerse themselves in nature. Based on the Japanese well-being practice of "Shinrin Yoku" or "bathing" in the atmosphere of the forest, try this exercise to reduce stress and improve your mental health.

The practice now recognised as "Forest Therapy," is well researched, with proven health benefits such as lowering cortisol levels, strengthening the immune system, stabilizing blood pressure, reducing stress and improving sleep.

So press play and listen to Susan Joachim (INFTA) guide you into a deep and sensory connection to your surroundings which will help you to feel more relaxed, happier, confident, focused and even more creative.

If you haven’t already, please prepare yourself for the session by finding a suitable spot where you can either be in or see nature without breaking whatever restrictions currently apply.

Susan Joachim is the President of the INFTA headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. She is also a Certified Forest Therapy Guide and Mentor and spends most weekends leading bushwalks around Australia and New Zealand with her hiking club. You can hear Susan leading you in a sit spot mindfulness exercise in our earlier forest therapy episode – just scroll back in your podcast feed or search our soundcloud.

You can find the International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance (INFTA) at https://infta.net/

You can find their Australian accredited training provider, In My Nature, at https://inmynature.life/

Yarra Libraries Suggests:

Into the forest : how trees can help you find health and happiness – Qing Li

Shinrin-yoku : the art and science of forest bathing – Qing Li

Shinrin-yoku : the Japanese way of forest bathing for health and relaxation - Yoshifumi Miyazaki

The healing magic of forest bathing : finding calm, creativity, and connection in the natural world – Julia Plevin

Music by Broke for Free