The trend does not include actual bathing, luckily, and does not necessarily even need to take place in a forest. Instead, forest bathing is an act of meditation and mindfulness meant to help you connect with nature, others, and yourself.

“The point is to slow down and truly tune in your senses to the nature that surrounds you,” certified forest therapy guide Leona Campbell told Denver7.

“We make our way though sight, what are the sounds, how does this feel, what are the smells?” she said. “Just a way of bringing ourselves into the present moment in a way we so rarely do.”

Forest bathing is not a hike or a guided nature walk as there is no destination, and nobody is telling you about your surroundings. Instead, your tour guide helps you open up your senses to your surroundings and bathe in that feeling.

Forest bathing is not exclusive to Colorado; in fact, the act of forest bathing first began in Japan in the 80s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine.

The trend is taking off in Colorado because The Association of Nature and Forest Therapy recently completed training sessions in Colorado. The Association has over 700 guides in 46 countries.

Leona Campbell hosts walks in the Denver Botanic Gardens as part of her private business. You can find more about her walks, which include private walks, public walks, and couples walks, here.

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