Forest Bathing Isn't What I Expected — It's Better

I thought I knew what a forest bath was . . . until I took one myself. I imagined I would sit quietly among the trees, take in the sunlight for a moment or two, then dust my hands and go about my business. Quick, quiet, and distinctly solo. In another corner of my brain, there might be a drum circle or some partial nudity — just goes to show how off-base I really was. "Forest bathing does not involve walking around the woods semi-naked," confirms Clara Schroeder, Columbia-trained ecotherapist and author of "Re-Nature: How Nature Helps Us Feel Better and Do Better." Despite this misconception, forest bathing is much more tame than some seem to think. "You are usually with a group led by a certified guide who is helping you deepen your connection with the natural environment, as well as with yourself," Schroeder explains. But what does that actually look like, and can it really help you feel more grounded? The science points to yes. The practice (also known as "Shinrin-yoku"), originated in Japan in the 1980s as a government-funded health initiative to help prevent burnout and stress. And indeed, studies have shown that forest bathing has real benefits for mental and physical health. These include lower cortisol levels, reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, lower blood pressure, improved immune function, and better sleep quality (to name a few). One promising finding from Eventbrite's 2026 Social Study indicates that people are still reaping these benefits today, with forest bathing events up 25 percent in the US and UK on the platform. Whatever's happening at these forest baths, people just can't get enough, and I wanted in. Here's how I felt after taking two different forest baths myself. My Garden Forest Bath My first-ever forest bath was at the Huntington Gardens in Los Angeles. I met up with a group of fellow bathers, at which point our certified forest therapy guide led us deeper into the gardens. We sat on rows of secluded benches and started opening our senses, closing our eyes, picking out nearby sounds, and even trying to taste the forest air. After a full-body meditation, our guide asked us to share what we noticed. I responded "nostalgia," thinking back to the kinds of smells and sounds I remembered from playing outdoors as a kid. Funny how we have to re-learn that sense of play as adults. One of my favorite parts was the breathwork exercise. Our guide had us inhale, then slowly exhale into a bubble wand, sending iridescent bubbles dancing all across the garden. We then had solo time to move across the grounds, feet sinking into the moss and snapping wayward twigs. It was interesting to see where people chose to go. Some picked one particular spot to reside — fascinated by a particular plant or spiderweb. Others, like myself, sought shade from the trees, or solitude in the tall grasses. Moving into a more private area, we were told to collect "gifts from the garden" to share with the group (read: anything you could find on the floor). I found a cactus petal, a spiky sweetgum ball, and a bright orange fruit. We arranged our findings on a table and surveyed each other's loot like artwork in a museum. By the end, I felt incredibly grounded and connected to my surroundings. I could see what the forest bathing hype was all about. My Full Moon Forest Bath I enjoyed my initial forest bath so much, I decided to go a second time — this time, at night. My next forest bath was on a full moon at the Los Angeles Arboretum, where our guide encouraged us to walk around, moon gaze, and share whatever came up. The environment was overwhelmingly beautiful, with a large reflecting pool and a beautiful sunset, but I noticed my energy felt different. My group came back with responses like "grounding" and "healing," but embarrassingly, my words were more like "frustrated" and "stubborn." I wasn't sure what was prompting these emotions. Maybe my day had been more stressful. Or maybe the moon was bringing out a different side of me. Afterwards, we sought shelter within the tangled branches of a massive tree on the outskirts of the Arboretum. We meditated within it, and I carefully climbed one of the limbs — strong and wide enough for me to lie completely flat on. I used to get in trouble for climbing trees, I thought to myself. Reuniting with my group, one woman told us how she's seen this tree a million times in the daylight, and even taken her kids to play there. But time flies, and they're all grown up now. "What a drop in the bucket that must be to this tree," she laughed. I loved her words, and in fact, I was touched by many of the community's takeaways. It wasn't only nature I was learning from. Takeaways Spending time in nature is powerful, no matter how you do it. But in my experience, forest bathing takes it a step further, challenging you to open your senses, get in touch with your emotions, and practice more intentional mindfulness. During both forest baths, I found it most difficult to slow down and listen to my body. In an increasingly tech-heavy world, it's not easy to re-kindle your relationship with nature (for me, at least). But in my opinion, it was worth the effort. "We are living in extremely chaotic and uncertain times, where it's hard to find moments of genuine peace in our daily lives," Schroeder says. "Forest bathing is one of those wellness practices that truly brings you back to center." It's interesting what you find when you stand still enough to notice. Forest bathing didn't always bring up positive emotions for me, but they were definitely honest. In forging a deeper connection with nature, I felt like I also connected more deeply with myself. Sometimes it was calming, and sometimes it was more invigorating (or even uncomfortable). But both times, it was very much needed. 49476788 Chandler Plante (she/her) is a social producer and staff writer for the Health & Fitness team at Popsugar. She has over five years of industry experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine, a social media manager for Millie magazine, and a contributor for Bustle Digital Group. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and is based in Los Angeles.