A group in Leaside-Bennington is helping Torontonians take a moment to rest, breathe and reconnect with nature through the practice of forest bathing.
Toronto Foundation 2024 Vital Signs Report Twenty-six per cent of Toronto adults reported moderate symptoms of depression, and 17% reported moderate symptoms of anxiety.
Toby Davine, Communications and Public Relations Manager evergreena national nonprofit focused on public spaces, says that structured engagement with nature is beneficial to overall well-being.
“Many of us live in small apartments downtown, so access to nature is very important. We know that green spaces help alleviate chronic health conditions, improve mental health and even social cohesion, and that’s really important to us at Evergreen. We’re really committed to transforming our city’s public spaces for the health of people and the planet.”
In 2023, Evergreen Brickworks Forest bathing clubGuided natural therapy sessions inspired by Japanese art.Shinrinyoku.”
Participants immerse themselves in nature using their five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. no way 2020 Canada Review The Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education found that this form of natural therapy can help reduce stress and improve mental health.
To date, the club has had over 300 participants.
Emily Pleasance, a nature and forest therapy guide, leads a forest bathing club at Evergreen Brick Works. She says, “Trees release substances called phytoncides, which are like oils and have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. All these things that trees produce to protect themselves. We absorb them through our skin and breathe them in. It has a direct correlation to strengthening our immune system. So there’s a lot of science behind it.”
She also added that feeling connected to others brings hope.
“In times like these, we need hope. Hope doesn’t happen in isolation.”
Janet Restrup, who has been participating in the forest bathing club since May 2024, said, “When I came to forest bathing last month, I found out the day before that my mother had a heart attack, and I was on a business trip so I couldn’t be with her right away. So here’s something I brought to the group that day. I said, ‘Listen, my mother had a heart attack.'” “I came into the team with a lot of worry and sadness, but all I was left with was peace and hope.”
“When I visited her the next day, I was emotional, but my emotional control was much stronger,” Restrup said, “because I came (to the forest bath) and took it out and visited. And it really was like night and day. It’s not about controlling your emotions, it’s resilience and it teaches you resilience.”
The Forest Bathing Club hopes to expand its reach to Toronto’s young people by working with schools to help children better understand nature and use it to regulate their emotions.
