A walk in Southern Oregon: Connecting with Nature through Forest Bathing and Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. When was the last time you checked in with yourself?

In a world that often asks us to hurry up, work harder, do more and stay constantly connected online… this month is a quiet invitation to slow down and come back to ourselves.

One of the simplest ways I’ve found to do this is by stepping outside my home in Southern Oregon. I feel so much gratitude that I am surrounded by such majestic, old growth forests, with countless trails, rivers and waterfalls that always bring me back in balance and harmony with nature.

The quiet medicine of nature

There is something deeply calming about being in nature. And not because it fixes or distracts us from anything, but because it brings us into the now. When are out hiking or walking in nature, we are so focused on our next step and taking those deep breaths.

The practice of forest bathing, known as Shinrin-yoku, originated in Japan as a way of intentionally immersing oneself in the atmosphere of the forest. It isn’t about hiking or reaching a destination or foraging (as it sometimes is the case for me). It’s about presence, slowness and connecting with your senses.

You don’t need special skills to do it. You just need time and a willingness to be present. It’s a way of grounding that brings us back in harmony with nature.

As I walk through a forest, I will often place my palm on a tree or run my fingers through a bundle of pine needles that seem to say hello. Sometimes, I sing or hum as I walk through an old growth forest. Somehow, I feel the grandmother trees are listening to me and smiling with the love and energy I am sharing with them. I feel safe and welcomed when I return to this place. It’s these little acts of gratitude that make the biggest impact on my mental health.

Why nature supports mental health

While mental health can feel complex and different for each of us, our nervous systems are still very much shaped by our environment. When we spend time in natural spaces, research has shown that stress levels can decrease, mood can improve, and attention can gently reset.

But beyond the science, there is something intuitive about it too.

Nature does not rush us. It does not evaluate us. It simply holds space for us to exist as we are. In that way, it becomes less of an escape and more of a return to ourseves.

A simple practice for Mental Health Awareness Month

If you want to incorporate forest bathing into your own life this May, here is a simple way to begin:

Find a natural space, this could be a forest trail, a neighborhood park, or even a quiet cluster of trees.

Leave your headphones behind.
Put your phone on silent.
Walk slowly. Sometimes I even take my shoes off and walk barefoot on grass.

Every so often, pause and gently notice…
What do I see right now?

What do I hear beneath the obvious sounds?

What does my body feel like in this moment?

There is nothing to achieve here. There’s no rush. Nothing to do but to notice.

Even ten minutes can shift something subtle inside you.

Mental Health Awareness Month is not about having perfect mental health. It’s about awareness, about paying attention to what we often rush past, both within ourselves and around us.

Forest bathing is one way to practice that awareness.

A reminder that we are allowed to slow down.
That we are allowed to be quiet.
That we are part of something larger than ourselves.

And sometimes, that is enough for today.

Here is a personal video I would like to share that I created during my hike on the Lower Rogue River in Southern Oregon. I find that hiking in nature, gives me the clarity I need to move through a tough situation I may be going through. Mother nature is always there to welcome us whenever we need her.