Slow down, come back to your senses, and make friends with the trees! On this two-hour guided walk, you’ll learn about the origins of the evidence-based well-being practice Shinrin-yoku*. Take a gentle wander from the sand dunes of Keōpūolani Park through the Native Hawaiian and canoe plant collection of Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. Your guide will offer a series of open prompts to bring you back into relationship with the natural world. There’ll be opportunities to interact with others on this small-group experience, as well as solo time to rest and simply enjoy the sensations of being alive. Participants must sign this waiver to attend. Minimum age: 16 years old. Must be able to walk unassisted on uneven ground with slight incline; stand and sit on ground for 15 minutes. More info: Forest Bathing Registration – Arbor Day Expo and Maui Nui Botanical Gardens – Conserving Hawaiian plants and cultural heritage. (mnbg.org)
* Forest bathing (the literal translation of the Japanese term Shinrin-yoku) is a growing movement worldwide that originated in Japan as a therapeutic response to the stress of living in an industrialized society. Unlike a hike, there is no “destination,” and unlike a naturalist tour, we won’t be identifying species, but rather remembering through our bodies our relationship with the beings of the more-than-human world.
You might also like: 30 stunning botanical gardens you can visit in Hawai’i (hawaiionthecheap.com)
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