Seasonal Forest Bathing Classes

The Benefits:

Whether you love the warm glow of summer, the vibrant colors of fall, the sparkle of winter, or the new growth of spring: there is beauty to behold in every season.

We believe that our wellness thrives when we can find joy in the present moment, and this includes the deepest days of winter as well as the warmest days of summer. Forest bathing in all seasons can naturally support a shift in our attitude and appreciation of all types of weather and seasonal conditions, making it a great technique for self-care for those living in a four-season climate.

Join us for Seasonal Forest Bathing classes to stay connected to nature throughout the year and tend to your sense of well-being by reducing stress, breathing the fresh air, and coming together as a community in the great outdoors.

Classes hosted year-round!

Are you an existing student that joins us regularly? Learn a little more about the specific updates we’ve made to these classes:

From May to September, classes are now 1.25-hrs long! This 15-minute extension will offer you more personal time during the portion of class we spend exploring the forest bathing invitation of the month, creating extra space for connection and wandering. We’ll also be building in a little extra time to ensure we are physically back in the parking lot at our class end time, making it easier to plan your day and ensuring you’re back to your car at the anticipated time. And lastly, we’re adding in a new offering in the form of a take-home forest therapy scroll after each class – offering you a bit of additional support as you build your forest bathing practice in-between monthly classes. We’re excited about these changes and hope you are too! We’ll see you in the forest soon!

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What You’ll Experience:

While forest bathing experiences can be up to three hours long, these shorter monthly classes are structured to help you relax, reconnect, and appreciate the gifts of our public forested spaces with a quality experience in a shorter time span. Classes from October through April are 1-hr long and classes are 1.25-hrs long throughout the rest of the year. All classes are led by IYE founder Katie Venechuk, a certified and experience forest therapy guide, trained by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.

This monthly class offers a great opportunity to nurture a personal forest bathing practice, with time set aside each month for a guided experience. It is also a great option for those who have never tried guided forest bathing before and would like to explore it for themselves.

All of Our Seasonal Forest Bathing Classes include:

• A class welcome at the trailhead, which includes a brief overview and introduction to the practice of forest bathing

• A quiet walk into the forest, where you’ll be guided to a lovely spot among the trees and invited to take a seat in with the group, using provided seat cushions & blankets

• An introduction circle to cultivate community and comfort being out in the forest together

• A guided relaxation and nature meditation, which includes breathing exercises and other sensory explorations to help you quiet your mind and explore a variety of mindful forest bathing techniques

• Time to explore a seasonally inspired forest bathing invitation (this is similar to a nature-focused mindfulness activity), offered by our guide based on the qualities of the day and the season we are in. This is class time that is intentionally set aside for you to have some quiet personal space, away from the group either walking or sitting in a spot of your choice.

• A closing community circle, where we’ll share a few words and enjoy time among the trees before walking back to the trailhead together

• NEW FEATURE: Class now includes a take-home forest therapy scroll to use during your personal time in nature between our monthly classes, helping you further nurture your forest bathing practice over time

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Comfort & Support Items Provided:

We’re here to help you enjoy nature year-round and we offer a variety of comfort items to help you get the most of your experience with us. Here are a few of the items we provide:

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Class Rates:

Single Class:	$18
**Five Class Pack:	$85 ($17 per class)
**Ten Class Pack:	$150 ($15 per class)
NEW Forest Bathing Self-Care Special:	3 seasonal forest bathing classes for $42, valid for 6-months from purchase ($14/class, learn more HERE)

*IYE Class Packs are valid for an entire year and can be used to attend all of our community classes interchangeably, which include: Foraging & Wild Tending Classes + Mushroom Identification Classes + Seasonal Forest Bathing Classes

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FAQ and Other Helpful Details:

• Classes are hosted on the first Saturday of each month year-round, at various locations around Grand Rapids. Classes from May-September are 1.25-hrs long and classes from October-April are 1-hr, with the added value of hot stone handwarmers as a comfort item for your experience.

• Check-in starts at 9:50am and we start class promptly at 10am. Out of respect for all attendees we are unable to wait for late arrivals, and we may be hard to find after leaving the trailhead. Please give yourself plenty of time to arrive so that you don’t miss us!

• All are welcome and no experience in the outdoors is necessary. These experiences are geared toward an audience 13 years or older, but you can contact us to discuss younger participants joining, too.

• All class registrations are handled in advance, so don’t forget to sign up if you plan to attend. This helps us comply with park regulations.

• Check out our What to Expect page for more information, refund and weather cancellation policies and other FAQs.