English: Sylvotherapy session

 

Sylvotherapy Sessions: Duration, Conditions, and Guidelines

Session Length
Typical sylvotherapy sessions last between 2 to 4 hours. However, shorter sessions can also be organized to offer a brief immersion in the satoyama zone—the transitional space between the busy rhythm of daily life and the quieter wilderness of the forest.
On the other end of the spectrum, sessions can span an entire day or multiple days and nights. These extended experiences allow participants to witness the forest’s transformations at dusk, night, and dawn—periods that bring shifts in light, sounds, temperature, smells, and wildlife activity.
In multi-day sessions, participants are strongly encouraged to eat and sleep in the forest. Using a vehicle, entering a building, or engaging with screens can interrupt the immersive experience. Like any other skill, connecting deeply with nature requires practice. While even a one-hour session can be beneficial, longer and more frequent sessions foster more lasting effects.


Pace and Movement
Sylvotherapy is not a hike—it’s an inner journey. Participants spend most of their time standing, sitting, lying on the grass, or leaning against trees. Movement is minimal and slow to support mindfulness.
To give a sense of pace, Japanese practitioners recommend moving no faster than 0.3 to 0.6 miles per hour (500m to 1km per hour). It's perfectly fine to stay in the same place for an hour or more.


Weather Conditions
There are no “ideal” conditions for sylvotherapy. With proper clothing and an adapted program, sessions can be held in light rain, snow, fog, or sunshine. Each type of weather offers unique and enriching experiences, revealing different facets of the forest.
Sessions will only be canceled or postponed if:

  • Temperatures exceed 86°F (30°C) or drop below 41°F (5°C), making it difficult to relax.

  • Strong winds present a risk of falling trees or branches.

  • Thunderstorms are forecast due to the danger of lightning.


Clothing and Essentials
Participants should wear comfortable clothes and footwear appropriate for the weather.

  • Cold conditions: thick clothing and warm shoes.

  • Hot weather: light, breathable clothing and open-toed shoes.

  • Sunny days: bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Regardless of the weather, dressing appropriately is essential to ensure full enjoyment of the experience.


Module 4 Common Questions and answers




Sylvotherapy – Common Questions

Can we improvise a sylvotherapy session?
Yes, some flexibility is encouraged. While improvisation can enhance the experience, it’s important to have a clear and thoughtful structure in place to guide the session effectively.

Is the sense of smell important during sylvotherapy?
Absolutely. Smell plays a vital role. The natural scents of plants and trees can have calming and even therapeutic effects, making scent just as important as sight, sound, or touch.

Why are the senses so important in sylvotherapy?
A forest bath is a full sensory experience. Participants are encouraged to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch the forest. Engaging all five senses is key to deepening the connection with nature and oneself.

What’s the ideal pace for a sylvotherapy session?
Very slow. Experts recommend moving no faster than 1 km per hour. This is not a workout—it’s a meditative experience. Slowness allows for greater awareness and presence.

What is a “sit spot”?
A sit spot is simply a quiet place in the forest where you can sit and be still. It's used for meditation, reflection, or simply absorbing the natural surroundings.

Can you eat during a session?
You won’t have a full meal, but you can taste edible elements of the forest—leaves, flowers, and berries. These are nature’s gifts and can enhance your connection to the environment.

How long does a session usually last?
Most sessions last between 2 and 4 hours. That’s enough time to settle into the rhythm of the forest without rushing.

Can a session last several days?
Yes, absolutely. Multi-day forest immersions deepen the experience. They allow you to witness the forest at dusk, night, and dawn—each offering a unique atmosphere and sensory landscape.

Which wild plants are edible?
Here are five commonly found edible plants:

  • Hops

  • Beech leaves

  • Dandelion

  • Clover

  • Lance-leaved plantain

How do you hug a tree properly?
Tree hugging is more than just physical contact—it’s an intuitive connection. Follow these steps:

  1. Walk through the forest until you feel drawn to a tree.

  2. Find a quiet space where you feel calm and grounded.

  3. Gently touch tree trunks with your palms to sense which one “speaks” to you.

  4. Use your other senses—smell, sight, sound—if touch alone isn’t enough.

  5. Make sure the tree is healthy. Avoid trees that appear sick or dying.

  6. Once you’ve found the right tree, connect with it. You can speak to it softly, listen inwardly, and finally, embrace it with presence and openness.


🌿 Relationship Between Sylvotherapy and Chromotherapy

  • Common Ground: Both use natural elements and colors for therapeutic purposes.

  • Key Difference:

    • Sylvotherapy works through direct contact with trees and natural environments, especially through exposure to phytoncides.

    • Chromotherapy (color therapy) works through visual stimulation of colors to influence mood, energy, and health.

  • Integration Potential: Sylvotherapy can include chromotherapy concepts by focusing on the colors present in the forest (green leaves, blue sky, etc.) for enhanced mental and emotional benefits.


đŸ« Symptoms Associated with the Lung Meridian (from Traditional Chinese Medicine):

Common imbalances of the lung meridian can include:

  • Shortness of breath

  • Frequent colds

  • Coughing

  • Dry skin

  • Sadness or grief

  • Fatigue or low immunity

  • Skin disorders (lungs are connected to the skin in TCM)


đŸŒČ Types of Sylvotherapy

  1. Recreational Sylvotherapy:

    • Definition: Aims to enhance sensory awareness and relaxation using creative games in nature.

    • Best for: Children, families, group workshops, and general well-being.

  2. Creative Sylvotherapy:

    • Focuses on artistic or imaginative activities in nature that stimulate healing through creativity.


🏞️ Where Can Sylvotherapy Be Practiced?

  • Ideally: In a forest, due to higher biodiversity and phytoncide concentration.

  • Also possible:

    • Parks

    • Gardens

    • Indoors (with adaptations)


🏠 Most Important Thing for Indoor Sylvotherapy:

  • Create a suitable environment that mimics nature using:

    • Essential oils (aromatherapy)

    • Natural light or chromotherapy lights

    • Plants and natural sounds


🌿 Sustaining the Effects of Sylvotherapy

  • Improve your lifestyle habits

  • Use aromatherapy

  • Regular exposure to nature

  • Practice mindfulness or breathing exercises


Can You Benefit from Sylvotherapy Daily Without Preparation?

  • Partially.

    • You can feel calmer and refreshed by spending time in nature.

    • But full benefits require intentional practice and therapeutic guidance.


🌬️ About Phytoncides

  • What are they?
    Natural substances with antimicrobial (fungicidal & bactericidal) properties secreted by trees and plants.

  • How do they act?
    They influence all nearby living beings, including humans.

  • How do we absorb them?

    • Through breathing (lungs)

    • Through the skin

  • Benefits for Humans:

    • Boost immune function

    • Lower stress

    • Improve mood and sleep

    • May even help combat cancer cells, according to some studies


đŸš¶ Is a Walk in the Forest Enough?

  • Not quite.

    • A walk helps.

    • But sylvotherapy involves specific techniques, such as:

      • Conscious breathing

      • Tree-hugging or proximity meditation

      • Grounding practices

      • Guided awareness exercises


🌳 Is Any Forest Suitable?

  • Depends on:

    • Biodiversity

    • Air quality

  • Cleaner, richer forests = more therapeutic benefits


🕒 Best Time for Sylvotherapy Sessions

  • Any time of year!

    • Just dress for the weather.

    • Each season offers unique benefits.


🌾 Essential Oils and Phytoncides

  • Are they the same?

    • Yes – phytoncides = natural plant essential oils

    • Extracted essential oils can replicate the effect of direct exposure to the plant

  • Aromatherapy's Role in Sylvotherapy?

    • Very useful indoors

    • Helps simulate the forest environment when outdoor access is limited

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