Where the Forest Heals

By Naomi M. | Purple Phoenix Wellness

There’s something sacred that happens when we step into the forest. The noise of the world quiets. Our breath slows.
And if we listen closely enough, we can feel life pulsing all around us.

This is the heart of forest therapy—a gentle, evidence-based practice that invites you to slow down, reconnect with your senses, and experience the healing intelligence of the natural world.

But this isn’t just about walking in the woods. It’s about remembering. Remembering that you are not separate from the earth.
That you belong here. And that healing doesn’t always happen under fluorescent lights or through words—it can also come in the silence between trees.

What Is Forest Therapy?

Forest Therapy, also known as Shinrin-Yoku or “Forest Bathing,” is a nature-based wellness practice that originated in Japan in the 1980s as a response to rising stress levels, burnout, and disconnection from nature. It simply means immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the forest—intentionally, slowly, and with presence. Unlike hiking or fitness-based outdoor activity, forest therapy is not goal-oriented. There’s no destination, no step-count, no need to "achieve" anything. Instead, it’s about being rather than doing.

As a certified guide, I offer supportive, trauma-informed experiences that lead you through a series of gentle, sensory-based invitations to connect with nature—and ultimately, yourself.

The Science Behind Forest Therapy

This isn’t just poetic—it’s proven by science. Studies from around the world have shown that guided time in forests can:

✅ Lower cortisol levels (stress hormone)
✅ Reduce blood pressure and heart rate
✅ Boost immune function (through phytoncides—healing compounds trees release)
✅ Improve mood, focus, and sleep
✅ Decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression
✅ Promote a sense of calm, awe, and emotional resilience

Forest therapy has even been used in hospital recovery programs, mental health treatment, and grief support settings.

In essence, nature regulates our nervous system. It invites our bodies out of survival mode and into safety.

When that happens—true healing begins.

How Forest Therapy Can Help You

Forest therapy is for everyone, but especially supportive if you're:

  • Grieving or navigating loss

  • Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or burnt out

  • Living with chronic stress or emotional heaviness

  • Longing for deeper connection—spiritual, emotional, or embodied

  • Seeking clarity or healing after a transition

  • Wanting to reconnect with joy, play, and the present moment

During a session, you’ll be gently guided through grounding, breathwork, nature connection practices, and periods of silence. You’ll be invited to notice, receive, and remember the subtle ways nature speaks. The forest becomes both therapist and temple. A place to reflect. To release. To remember that you’re held.

What to Expect in a Session

  • Welcoming & Grounding: We begin with breath, presence, and a land acknowledgment or moment of gratitude.

  • Guided Invitations: I offer gentle prompts—like listening for the quietest sound, touching textures, or connecting with a tree—that support sensory presence and emotional release.

  • Sharing Circle (Optional): Participants are welcome to share reflections, but there is no pressure to speak.

  • Closing Ritual: A gentle ritual (breath, gratitude, or offering) helps you integrate and ground before returning to daily life.

Sessions are held in carefully selected natural spaces in the Oshawa/Durham region area or can be offered in private or small group settings.

Forest Therapy + Holistic Healing

At Purple Phoenix Wellness, forest therapy blends beautifully with the other offerings I provide—Reiki, Meditation, Grief Support, and End-o-Life Doula care. Why? Because nature is a master healer. It reminds us of the cycles of life, death, decay, and rebirth. It mirrors our emotional landscapes. It holds our grief without needing to fix it. And it teaches us how to be still enough to feel again.

For those walking through loss, transition, or awakening—forest therapy is a safe and sacred path back to your own body, your breath, and your place in the world.

Ready to Reconnect?

If your soul is calling for stillness, softness, or space to breathe again, I invite you to experience the medicine of the forest.

You don’t need to explain. You don’t need to be spiritual. You just need to arrive. Let nature do the rest.

Learn more about my offerings here ➡️ Have questions or want to connect? Schedule a call here ➡️