Forest therapy or sylvotherapy (sylvo being Latin for "tree") is a guided form of curative therapy which utilizes the simple benefits of bathing oneself in nature to heal the body while nurturing the mind and soul. Known in Japan as shinrin-yoku, it was a scientist named Dr Qing Li who wrote the best selling book "Forest Bathing" which drove the popularization of the practice in the West.

Operating out of conservation areas, public or provincial parks, participants are led by Sylvotherapy Practitioner & Owner of Left Hand Foraging, Meagan Haley. At a gentle walking pace through a winding forest trail, groups are invited to take part in multiple exercises designed to support and enhance mental stillness, spiritual concentration, and meaningful earthly connection. We ignite each of the senses one by one, awakening and putting in sync the mind, body, spirit trifeca.

Led by the BC Parks Foundation and driven by healthcare professionals, Canada's very first nationwide evidence-based nature prescription program is known as PaRx. This revolutionary program allows any licensed healthcare provider (a nurse or physician, physiotherapist, psychologist, dentist, etc.) to prescribe time in nature.

PaRx supports these licensed healthcare providers with evidence-based tools which make prescribing time in nature for their patients as simple as it is effective. Patients are supported in accessing a network that includes healthcare providers as well as Nature Connectors - a curated network of trained nature-based practitioners who are dedicated to guiding patients with following through on their nature prescriptions.

Currently, Left Hand Foraging is in the process of being listed under the PaRx Nature Connectors community, and hope to be officially recognized in their database as a Forest Therapy Provider by 2027.

Forest bathing is the practice of fully immersing oneself completely within a forest setting. While anyone can forest bathe, forest therapy is a guided approach led by a practitioner trained specifically in a curriculum set in place and agreed upon by international holistic therapy councils. This offers  participants a significantly wider scope of opportunity to connect with the natural world on a deeper level than simply standing, sitting or walking in a forest can.

While the benefits of living in tandem with nature have been known for many centuries and by many cultures, modern Western science has only recently been able to confirm with data the many curative elements of forest therapy. These science-backed principles include the advantages of oxygen therapy, the documented actions of negative ions, continued research into the individual effects of terpenes & phytoncides and good bacteria like Mycobacterium vaccae. Paired with mindful meditative practices, guided exploration and old fashioned excercise, forest therapy is a powerful way to assist people in depressive states on a non-pharmaceutical level and engage in and/or reclaim a lost relationship with Mother Earth and oneself.

For more in depth information on the benefits of forest therapy, visit the featured links above for selected articles and scientific reviews pertaining to each described benefit, or see our recent Blog post titled "What Is Sylvotherapy?"

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Private sessions can be booked for 1-3 participants here using our calendar to choose the best date and time for you. 

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