The 6 Best US Spas to Get Your Forest Bathing On
It’s not what you think. At least, not entirely. Forest bathing may sound like you’re about to jump into a creek like a puppy in the summertime, but trust us — there’s no getting naked, and this Japanese tradition is set to be your new favorite self-care ritual. Shinrin-yoku began in Japan back in the 1980s, and in the intervening decades it’s found its way from South Korea to Europe and is now sweeping the US spa community.
We’ve been fans of the trend for awhile, but to explain the ritual in a nutshell, forest bathing is the practice of taking a slow, meditative, guided walk through the woods to ease anxiety, calm nerves, and improve mood. It’s like an intense therapy sesh with mother nature. It’s restorative, gentle, and balancing — which feels particularly necessary considering today’s political climate, right? If you’re looking to get back to nature in trend-right fashion, we’ve rounded up six of the most refreshing forest bathing spas so you can start planning your next girls’ weekend stat.