Forest Bathing.
Breath in. Breathe out. Come back to your senses. Notice the smell of summer pine. Sit by the creek and remember. Return to what you know. Connect. To the echoing birds flying above. To your inner child dancing in and out of puddles. To other humans and the more-than-human world. To the f*cks you have left to give and to things you want to spend them on.
Enlightening and restorative. The perfect reset and opportunity to notice and appreciate your surroundings.
Remote Walker
Slowing down, consciously noticing the things going on around me filled me with appreciation and curiosity.
In-Person Walker
A great opportunity to enjoy nature in a way other than hiking or walking and to feel more connected to the body.
In-Person Walker
When the forest is your therapist, all you have to do is slow down.
Forest Therapy (a.k.a. Forest Bathing) is a practice that allows the forest to become your therapist.
How? Simply put, you’ll be outside with a group of people for a few hours. There will be rest and wandering, alone time, group gatherings, and sharing. Everything (except kindness and respect) is optional and open to your imagination and interpretation. The emphasis is not on getting somewhere but on being here. Not on doing anything but on being alive. Not on learning about nature, but (re-)connecting with it.
The practice originated from the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku and has been backed by research to provide an array of possible health benefits (physiological, mental, and emotional/spiritual).
During a Forest Therapy experience, your central nervous system will regulate (=reduce stress), your immune system will get a boost from the phytoncides emitted by the trees, and your cognitive abilities might benefit through attention restoration.
Scheduled Events
If you don’t see any event listing here, sign up for my Tree Mail Updates below to make sure you never miss anything.
Forest Bathing Saunters with Missoula Parks & Recreation
Each month, I offer an experience that’s designed to help you tune out the noise of daily life and return to your senses. Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing), these guided walks invite you to notice, wander, and connect with nature in simple but powerful ways.
Every session is shaped by the season—spring’s renewal, summer’s abundance, autumn’s letting go, winter’s stillness—so each walk offers a fresh experience.
Returning Spring 2026. Registration Coming Soon.
- Saturday, March 21, (Spring Equinox) – 2–3:30 pm, 📍 Tower Street
- Saturday, April 18, 5–6:30 pm (New Moon) – 5–6:30 pm, 📍 Maclay Flats
- Saturday, May 16 (New Moon) – 2–3:30 pm, 📍Lincoln Hills
- Sunday, June 21 (Summer Solstice) – 9–10:30 am, 📍 Waterworks Hill/Peace Park
In-Person Walks
I guide groups of people on Forest Bathing Walks in and around Missoula, Montana. We slow down, we sit, we wander, we connect with each other, and experience the gloriousness of being alive together. All while regulating our central nervous system, boosting our immune system, and bringing our creativity to eagle-height levels.
Private Experiences
I love to curate private experiences for individuals, couples, friends, or families. Think birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, or working through shared grief. Email me and let me know what you have in mind.
Remote Walks (Returning Spring 2026)
You join from wherever you are: your patio or backyard, a neighborhood park, underneath the tree in the parking lot at work. While we won’t encounter the same things, we will share connections and the benefits of simply being outside.
For Businesses
- Want to add Forest Bathing to your employee benefits?
- In search of a different kind of corporate retreat?
- Do you own a tourism business and want to offer forest bathing to your guests?
2026 women’s River Retreat
Ready to leave old narratives behind and step into what’s real, alive, and wildly possible? Join us.
August 29 – September 2, 2026
🌲 Get Tree Mail Updates 🌲
Never miss any remote or in-person Forest Therapy Walks.
You’ll get special pricing on my private events, too.
I felt more balanced, connected and grounded to the place and moment in time, which gave me a good foundation for the rest of the day.
Remote Walker
Sylke has created a beautiful experience that’s not quite like anything else I’ve ever done before, and it’s a few hours very well spent.
In-Person Walker
The location lent itself well to the experience and Sylke elegantly straddled the line between clear direction and open exploration.
In-Person Walker