“Walking among trees isn’t just a break; it’s a reminder that I belong to something bigger than myself.” (Gary)
Since 2018, The Forest Bathing Institute (TFBI) has been nurturing mindful communities by running guided nature-based mindfulness sessions known as Forest Bathing (FB+), and piloting research programs into this accessible form of mindfulness. Sessions combine mindful walking, breathing practices, sensory awareness, and stillness in woodland settings. Founders, Gary and Olga, explain:
‘By offering accessible, inclusive, and evidence-based nature mindfulness practices, we help people slow down, reconnect with themselves, and foster compassion. Our sessions often create supportive group experiences, encouraging participants to build lasting connections both with nature and with each other.’
TFBI’s Welsh base in Monmouthshire trains FB+ guides across Wales. Over the years, this project, initially based in Surrey, has grown to cover the whole of the UK and offers international research and training programs. Led by a multidisciplinary team of researchers, health professionals, and certified forest bathing guides, TFBI has led close to 1,000 meditation and mindfulness classes and events, and trained hundreds of meditation teachers and forest bathing+ guides who have run thousands more. It is no longer possible to count how many people are being reached by their work, but it is safe to say it is in the tens of thousands.
As well as courses for the public and NHS referrals, TFBI teaches formal mindfulness/meditation courses to healthcare professionals and educators, and organisations seeking wellbeing programmes such as community groups and charities. They also provide workshops for organisations wishing to integrate mindful nature practices into their wellbeing programmes.
But alongside the formal training Gary and Olga, who trained as yoga teachers in India, highlight the importance of informal mindfulness activities, believing that combining the two approaches offers unique and complementary benefits. They are passionate about making mindfulness in nature accessible to all, regardless of age, background, or ability. ‘What I really love about forest bathing,’ says Gary, ‘is its gentle power to quiet my mind and reconnect me with the world beyond screens and schedules. In my own life, I’ve found it to be deeply healing — reducing my stress, sharpening my mood, and helping me feel more grounded and alive’.
Image: Gary and Olga, founders of TFBI
“It’s like therapy in nature – restorative, peaceful, and grounding.” (participant)
TFBI raises awareness and builds community confidence in these proven practices through partnerships with universities to research its health benefits, replicating findings from Japan. Studies show that mindfulness-in-nature training reduces stress, improves sleep and wellbeing, and strengthens resilience.
In 2021 TFBI spearheaded a qualitative study to explore the inter-relationship between forest bathing and mindfulness. The findings indicated that forest bathing’s emphasis on outward focus may provide a gentler, more accessible way into mindfulness, especially for individuals who are at risk of re-traumatization, experiencing extreme mental health challenges, or who experience more difficulty engaging with other mindfulness practices. (Clarke, Kotera & McEwan, 2021)*.
“I’ve struggled with anxiety for years, but these sessions give me tools to cope.” (Participant)
TFBI aims to make forest bathing more widely accessible across Wales and the UK by training more guides and integrating mindfulness-in-nature into healthcare, education, and community wellbeing. They continue to work closely with universities, health boards, and international partners, and are building stronger links with Welsh health, government, and education sectors. Both those who are new to mindfulness, or those with a background in mindfulness, especially if they find it hard to practice mindfulness indoors, are encouraged to try it in nature —many TFBI participants find it much easier to relax and let go of stress. TFBI’s new book, The Healing Power of Trees, and the FB+ exercise card deck contain lots of helpful tips to get started.
“I feel calmer and lighter after each session – it’s like my worries melt away.” (Participant)
Contact details:
Email: info@tfb.institute
Website: https://tfb.institute
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063644529505
X (Twitter): https://x.com/TFB_Institute
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tfb_institute/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-forest-bathing-institute/
Our involvement with peer-reviewed research can be found here https://tfb.institute/scientific-research/. There are four papers to date. We are currently working on a new paper with the University of Bournemouth, which has been measuring EEG activity; early data is positive!
*Clarke, F. J., Kotera, Y., & McEwan, K. (2021). A qualitative study comparing mindfulness and shinrin-yoku (forest bathing): practitioners’ perspectives. Sustainability, 13(12), 6761.