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Media & Blog
News, press releases, and stories from the ANFT community.
News, press releases, and stories from the ANFT community.
Training as a Nature and Forest Therapy Guide
- Gabrielle Young
- Walking by Nature
- October 2016
Last week, I was very privileged to be among the first eight people in New Zealand and Australia to be trained as a Nature and Forest Therapy guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programmes.
Forest Therapy Documentary, United States Segment
- Korean Broadcasting System
- October 2015
Korean Broadcasting System Documentary, US Segment
Sonoma County's Amos Clifford Guides Japanese Practice of Forest Bathing
- Derek Moore
- Santa Rosa Press Democrat
- December 2015
Removing his sandals, Amos Clifford walked barefoot over a bed of golden brown leaves blanketing a trail at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Forest Bathing at Osmosis
- Michael Stusser
- Osmosis Blog
- April 2016
Beyond our daily routines and to-do lists the world goes on with or with out us. The world of nature is generating its serene healing energy abundantly all the time if we could simply open ourselves to receive it.
Forest Bathing is Latest Fitness Trend to Hit US
- Meeri Kim
- Washington Post
- May 2016
If we spend time in forests — just being present and using our senses to connect with the forest — there’s quite a wide array of healing benefits.
Shinrin-Yoku: The Japanese Practice that Could Transform Your Day
- Nicole Frehsee
- O!
- June 2014
Japanese researchers have found that leaving the civilized world behind for a few hours could be the healthiest thing you do all day.
Why Being in Nature Makes You Smarter, According to Neuroscientists
- Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan
- Outside Magazine
- June 2023
The scientific evidence is overwhelmingly clear: spending time outdoors boosts your brain function. So what are you waiting for?
Is Nature Deficit Disorder a Thing
- Marcelo Gleiser
- NPR Morning Edition
- April 2018
A 2014 article from the United Nations states that about 54 percent of the human population lives in urban areas (more by now), a proportion that is projected to increase to 66 percent by 2050. By 2045, the report says, more than six billion people will crowd cities.
Children Find Peace in the Forest
- Michelle Brenner
- Mediate.com
- August 2018
Nature Deficit Disorder, a phrase coined by Richard Louv in his book, Last Child in The Woods, is used to describe the impact that urbanisation along with the technological era has had, in reducing the time children are having in nature, nearby nature. It is rare for children in the 21st century to have childhood memories of playing down the end of the street making go carts, tree houses, and playing till the stars came out, getting lost in make believe games that used nature, both human nature and the more-than-human-world of nature.
Walk in the Woods is Good for Your Health
- WGN9 Chicago
- June 2015
It’s a free and powerful drug – nature can help heal, de-stress and improve our mental health. It sounds simple, but there’s science to back up the claim. For some, all it takes is a walk in the woods.
Forest Bathing: a Retreat to Nature Can Boost Immunity and Mood
- Allison Aubrey
- NPR Morning Edition
- July 2017
When my editors asked me to report on forest bathing, I packed a swimsuit. I assumed it must involve a dip in the water.
Forest Bathing Harnesses Nature to Boost Health
- Kathleen Doheny
- WebMD
- August 2017
On a recent morning in late July, Ben Page leads six hikers about a quarter-mile into the Angeles National Forest about an hour north of Los Angeles. As they walk on winding paths under maple trees and past bubbling streams, he asks them to gather in a circle, stand, and notice the sights, sounds, and smells surrounding them.
Forest Bathing Embraces Healing Properties of Nature
- Cassandra Szklarski
- CTV News
- June 2016
On a recent morning in late July, Ben Page leads six hikers about a quarter-mile into the Angeles National Forest about an hour north of Los Angeles. As they walk on winding paths under maple trees and past bubbling streams, he asks them to gather in a circle, stand, and notice the sights, sounds, and smells surrounding them.
Forest Bathing, a Mindful Walk in the Woods
- Editor
- National Post
- September 2016
In Japan, it’s called “shinrin-yoku,” which translates as forest bathing. It’s the practice of immersing yourself in nature to improve your well-being, and interest in the concept is growing, with spas, resorts, retreat centres, gardens and parks offering guided “forest bathing” experiences.
The Ultimate Stress Antidote that Costs Nothing
- Mark Johanson
- BBC
- June 2016
Scottish literary giant Robert Louis Stevenson wrote that it’s “not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.”
Forest Bathing in California
- Editor
- Lightfoot
California’s latest wellness trend has its roots in Japan. As a reaction to constantly buzzing smartphones, dull office cubicles and endless late nights at the office, Californians are now turning to the Japanese therapy of shinrin-yoku to destress – namely, the art of forest bathing.
More Than a Walk in the Woods
- Alexandra Malloy
- Sierra
- February 2017
Naturalist and Sierra Club founder John Muir once said that in every walk with nature, one receives far more than he or she seeks. Mounting interest in the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, which translates literally to “taking in the forest atmosphere,” or “forest bathing,” would seem to indicate that people are increasingly taking Muir’s sentiment to heart.
Forest Bathing is Latest Fitness Trend to Hit US
- Meeri Kim
- Washington Post
- May 2016
If we spend time in forests — just being present and using our senses to connect with the forest — there’s quite a wide array of healing benefits.
Forest Therapy Guide Explains the Healing Power of a Walk in the Woods
- A. Pawloski
- Today
- August 2016
If we spend time in forests — just being present and using our senses to connect with the forest — there’s quite a wide array of healing benefits.
The Woodland Cure: Why a Good Walk May Just Be the Answer to What Ails You
- Elaine Gusac
- American Way
- May 2017
For a city person, the pace of life out here can take some getting used to. I’ve come several states to explore the tangle of trails at Blackberry Farm resort, which abuts Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and minutes into my first trek I nearly rear-end my guide, Hope Parks, who has paused to study a neon-striped millipede. We stand and sniff the wintergreen scent of a teaberry leaf and listen to the song of cicadas that fills the air on this cool summer morning.
The Health Benefits of Shinrin-Yoku
- Gina Zammit
- Shape
- May 2015
There’s a reason women are willing to fork over a hefty amount of their paycheck for a day at the spa. The payoffs—uninterrupted zen, luxurious pampering—are worth the price. But what if we told you that you could indulge closer to home—and for way less money?
Forest Therapy Guide Explains the Healing Power of a Walk in the Woods
- A. Pawloski
- Today
- August 2016
If we spend time in forests — just being present and using our senses to connect with the forest — there’s quite a wide array of healing benefits.
The Woodland Cure: Why a Good Walk May Just Be the Answer to What Ails You
- Elaine Gusac
- American Way
- May 2017
For a city person, the pace of life out here can take some getting used to. I’ve come several states to explore the tangle of trails at Blackberry Farm resort, which abuts Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and minutes into my first trek I nearly rear-end my guide, Hope Parks, who has paused to study a neon-striped millipede. We stand and sniff the wintergreen scent of a teaberry leaf and listen to the song of cicadas that fills the air on this cool summer morning.
Why Forest Bathing is the New Trend
- Editor
- Vegetarian Times
- July 2016
Taking a walk in the woods and soaking up the lush scenery, clean air, and supreme quiet of a forest could do more than refresh your mind and recharge your energy. Thanks to a do-it-yourself therapy known as forest bathing or shinrin-yoku (a Japanese term that means “taking in the forest atmosphere”), spending a few serene hours in the woods may give you a long-lasting health boost.
What is Forest Bathing?
- Kelley Rawlsky
- Enterprise News
- October 2017
Now that Jack Frost kicked my vegetables and herbs to the curb, how and where am I going to get my people-plant therapy? I have house plants, like most folks, but they become to resemble furniture that require dusting and other regular maintenance. They don’t bring me the same joy as growing edibles.
The Woodland Medicine of Forest Bathing
- Tiffanie Wen
- NH Magazine
- July 2017
Leave my devices behind? That’s definitely what Amos Clifford, founder and director of the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs, advised me to do before taking my first solo walk in the woods. But there are bears out here, I can’t help thinking to myself. And I have a terrible sense of direction.
Forest Bathing: Outdoor Experience on a Different Level
- Jackie Rainford Corcoran
- Big Sky
- September 2015
Most of us who live or vacation in southwest Montana know intuitively that spending time in nature is good for the mind, body and spirit. Now there’s science to prove it, thanks to a cultural trend in Japan called Shinrin-yoku, which translates to “bathing in the medicine of the forest” or “forest bathing.”
Meditation: The Trees of Your Life
- Amos Clifford
- Catching Zs: the Millennial's Guide to Mindfulness
- June 2016
Amos Clifford on Shinrin-Yoku
- Amos Clifford
- Catching Z's: the Millenial's Guide to Mindfulness
- January 2018
Today we’re excited to have Amos Clifford with us, Amos is a leader and pioneer in the field of Shinrin Yoku and has not only devoted his entire career to helping at risk youth, but has also written a book called, “A Little Handbook of Shinrin-Yoku”.
Eros in the Outdoors: The Healing Practice of Forest Bathing
- Sharon Ann Wikoff
- Blog Talk Radio
- 2014
The Voice of Change welcomes Amos Clifford to speak on: Eros in the outdoors: the healing practice of forest bathing.
How to Forest Bathe At Work
- Beth Salmon
- Bodhi Tree
As the work of humans becomes increasingly urban-bound and technology-driven, so is our need to reconnect with nature. It’s no wonder that the increasingly popular therapy of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” was developed by the forestry service of Japan, a country where nearly 91% of the population is concentrated in urban areas, yet also contains some of the world’s most beautiful, lush forests.
Adirondack Forest Bathing
- Editor
- Adirondack Riverwalking
Picture it now: You are walking through an evergreen forest on a bright spring day surrounded by bird songs. You feel the warmth of the sun on your skin as you watch green shoots springing up from the ground. You feel the mystery of the forest. Your Adirondack Forest Bathing guide is allowing you to slow down, helping you open your senses to a new way of experiencing nature.
I Went to a Forest Therapy Session and It Wasn't Weird at All
- Clarissa Wei
- the Bold Italic
- Janary 2017
We’ve come to an opening in the Monrovia Canyon trail. A bed of fallen leaves pads the ground, and the air smells of subtle decay. Ben Page, my guide, invites me to let the forest be my guide. I am skeptical. As an avid hiker, I already spend considerable time with nature, and I’m not entirely sure what this therapy session will involve.
Forest Bathing at Osmosis
- Michael Stusser
- Osmosis Blog
- April 2016
Beyond our daily routines and to-do lists the world goes on with or with out us. The world of nature is generating its serene healing energy abundantly all the time if we could simply open ourselves to receive it.
I Tried a Three-Day Forest Bathing Trip-Here's What That Was Like
- Gemma Hartley
- Women's Health
- November 2016
My first clash with depression and anxiety came five years ago, after the birth of my son. Since then, I’ve learned to keep my symptoms in check by meditating and getting outside every day (whether or not I feel like it).
The Medicine of Being in the Forest: Shinrin-Yoku
- Jill Cloutier
- Sustainable World Radio
- March 2015
Episode 111: In this episode, I talk with wilderness guide and educator Amos Clifford about Forest Therapy or Shinrin-yoku. Also known as Forest Medicine or Forest Bathing, Shinrin-yoku is beneficial for your health and has been shown to increase white blood cell counts, decrease stress hormones, lower blood pressure, and improve people’s moods.
Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing)
- Many Rivers
his presentation is an overview of Forest Therapy, inspired by the practice of Shinrin-yoku. Shinrin-yoku, also known as Forest Bathing, is a simple practice of mindful movement in natural settings. It emphasizes cultivating an intimate relationship with nature through direct sensory contact. Using the techniques of shinrin-yoku, we can very quickly enter into a state of intimate, deep connectedness.
Forest Bathing: free medicine, no swallowing required
- Melati Citrawireja
- New Sincerity
- November 2017
In case you missed it, forest bathing is a form of stress-reducing therapy that first began in Japan (called ‘shinrin-yoku’) and is taking off all over the US. No bathing suit required here – all you need is a little bit of time to play in the woods.
Why You Need to Try Forest Bathing
- Editor
- Dr Oz
Forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku, originates from Japan and was established in 1982 as an innovative approach to addressing and even preventing modern-day ailments and stressors. In the last two decades, the practice has gained traction and is now primed to be the next big wellness trend. We spoke with M. Amos Clifford, the founder and CEO of the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT) and Suzi Minor, an ANFT-certified Forest Therapy Guide at L’Auberge de Sedona resort to demystify the misconceptions of forest bathing and discuss its promising benefits.
Urban Biophilia: The Tree Diaries
- Pamela Turczyn
- New York Free Spirit Journal
- July 2015
In short, Forest Bathing involves walking leisurely in a treed setting while mindfully tuning into one’s senses. In A Little Guidebook of Shinrin-Yoku, Amos Clifford says, “In addition to the mechanism of aromatherapy, the forest environment bathes us in many other healing influences.
Inside The Genius Japanese Practice That Boosts Your Immune System & Eliminates Stress Instantly
- Leigh Wingus
- Mindbodygreen
Originally from Japan, forest bathing—or shinrin-yoku in Japanese—isn’t what it sounds like. Yes, it involves a trip to the forest, but you won’t be stripping down and jumping into a serene lake surrounded by larger-than-life trees. Instead, it’s a meditative moment or walk spent immersing yourself in all the forest has to offer: clean air, peace and quiet, and immune-boosting benefits.
What are Mood Walks?
- Editor
- Mood Walks
Shinrin-yoku (森林浴) is the Japanese practice of “forest bathing” or immersing oneself in the atmosphere of the forest for relaxation and health care. Rooted in scientific research, forest therapy is proving to be the most effective antidote to our modern, technology-driven lifestyles.
Shinrin-yoku: the Practice of Forest Bathing
- Julie Hale
- LA Yoga
- October 2017
For as long as I can remember, the forest has been a place of healing for me. As a child I would gravitate to the woods for hours. As an adult in this modern multi-tasking world, it has been harder to keep up the habit regularly. I mean, really – if you go outside, you should be exercising and checking your watch to hit that magic number of 10,000 steps. Right?
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