Haley Dasovich

🌲I tried ‘forest therapy’. Here’s the long short on what it did to my mental health:

🛫I’ve been traveling for 7 years. Even though my life is centered around my travels— and I very much made it that way— there’s something to be said for the distraction of constantly being on the move finding temporary homes and communities. It’s immersive and connecting, yet, elusive and fleeting.

🌹At my core, I am someone who appreciates the small moments in life on the road. But between a busy production schedule, travel, and day to day responsibilities, I also have a continuous loop of to-do’s in my head.

🍃I first heard about forest bathing from my brother a few years ago, and was fascinated by it. It’s that innate feeling we know about nature; spending more time in it makes you feel better.

🚘Earlier this year I drove to Montana and rented a house in the forests of the Flathead Valley. At the time, I was in a dark place about my work and other personal things going on in my life.

🌿In the tranquility of the woods, I started to feel soothed. I took morning and evening walks with guided forest therapy meditations. I spent so much time just standing still in the forest, looking at the entire tree from top to bottom, watching the sunlight flicker. The more I zeroed in on the forest, the quieter my thoughts became. During the month I spent in the woods, I felt content and acceptance. Which was precisely my intention in seeking forest therapy. To calm my roar of thoughts to a low buzz, and find some peace.

You don’t have to drive out to the wilderness for forest therapy. The practice can be as simple as taking a walk in any natural environment and consciously connecting with the world around you. I’ve taken what I’ve learned from my guided meditations, and I’ll take a walk around the block with this same practice. Have you tried forest therapy?
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#forestbathing #foresttherapy #ecotherapy #naturetherapy #montana #forestwalk #peaceofmind