Forest Therapy: A Pathway to Well-Being and Nature Connection | Beth Bengtson

Forest therapy is becoming increasingly popular around the world as people seek to enhance their own wellness and reconnect with nature. This practice supports wholeness and well-being through guided immersion in forests and other natural environments. Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing”), forest therapy offers potential benefits for body, mind, and spirit and promotes the improvement of human health, a greater sense of connectedness, and a deeper sense of compassion.

During this informative talk, Certified Forest Therapy Guide Beth Bengtson addresses questions such as:
• What is it like to experience a forest therapy walk?
•What are the potential benefits of this practice?
• How is forest therapy different from an ordinary walk in nature?
•Does scientific research support the value of forest therapy?

Beth also guides viewers through some simple, sense-opening invitations and discuss how to incorporate elements of forest therapy into everyday life. Presented on January 27, 2022.

Beth Bengtson is a naturalist, educator and Certified Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs. Beth has certifications in Natural History and N-ACT (Natural Areas Conservation Training) through The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL, and has worked as an Education Program Guide at the Arboretum since 2008, teaching nature education programs to youth and adults in both lab and outdoor settings. She also works with a volunteer steward group restoring the Arboretum’s East Prairie, and leads students and youth volunteers on natural areas restoration projects. Beth has a BA in English from the University of Iowa and, prior to entering the field of nature education, worked professionally as a writer/editor. She still enjoys writing freelance and personal projects. Her work has been published in literary journals and various print and online publications.

This program was made possible thanks to the generous support of an anonymous donor. To learn about sponsoring a program, contact us at [email protected].

#nature #healing #meditation

The views expressed in this program are those of the presenter/s and do not necessarily represent the views of the Theosophical Society in America, its members or its affiliates.