Posted on: August 21, 2018
One way to invite calm into your personal life is to find ways to slow things down, and to be mindful of the present. Forest Therapy is the practice of spending time in a forest environment to enhance health, wellness, and happiness.
The practice of Forest Therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which provides the opportunity for people to spend quality time in a natural environment in a way that invites healing interactions with their surroundings. Cultures all over the world have engaged in this tradition. The walks are a practice, similar to yoga, meditation, and exercise, so it’s best to learn from a qualified guide. The Glen Ellyn Park District has engaged the services of Retta Hennessey, a highly trained and certified Forest Therapy Guide, to lead Forest Therapy Walks for the community.
Hennessey’s journey to becoming a Forest Therapy Guide took many turns in the road. “After earning a business degree, I discovered that I really wanted to teach,” she explained. “I specialized in Early Childhood Education, and taught both preschool and Kindergarten at a private school. I then applied for the Head Start program, and taught there for seven years. Over time, I decided the restrictions imposed there didn’t suit my teaching style, so I worked seasonally at the Children’s Garden at the Morton Arboretum for the next seven years, and also taught Nature Preschool at the Red Oak Nature Center in Batavia.”
Incorporating nature into her lesson plans was very enjoyable, and Hennessey loved using the outdoors as her classroom. “I decided to go for an Associate’s degree in Horticulture, which led to opportunities to work as a Naturalist with children and with memory care patients at the Arboretum,” she added.
In March 2016, Forest Therapy Walks were introduced at the Morton Arboretum, with all staff invited to participate. “It was the coldest day in March,” said Hennessey. “We went on a three-hour forest walk, and it was like a piece of the puzzle just dropped in, helping me figure out what to do with my life. The guided meditation was incredible.”
In 2017, training for Forest Therapy Guide certification became available at the Arboretum, and Hennessey jumped at the chance to participate. “I entered the training program with people from all over the country,” she said. “Then I worked with a mentor for six months, and spent a lot of time journaling. At the end of my training, I submitted all my work, along with written exams, and was approved. I’m proud to be a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide!”
Hennessey describes how healing activities can be incorporated into a Forest Therapy Walk. As a Guide, she invites participants to take time to stop and share their thoughts about what they’re noticing during their experience. “I just act as a guide to help people open themselves up, to notice what’s around them, and to connect with, or reconnect with, the “more than human” world. The forest is the therapist; it teaches people to become aware, through their senses, of themselves and everything around them.”
Hennessey teaches participants to learn to let the land and its messages penetrate the mind and the heart more deeply, through the practices of sit spot, place tending, and cross-species communication. “I receive wonderful feedback from those who join my guided Forest Therapy Walks,” she explained. “People notice things they had never noticed before. They feel renewed, and mentally re-energized. I always hear back that they’d definitely recommend the experience to others.”
Forest Therapy Walks are not to be undertaken with the goal of physical exercise beyond what a tranquil stroll would provide. They’re not considered “hikes”, as they’re typically a mile or less in length, with a 2-4 hour duration. Similarly, Forest Therapy Walks are not intended to be a one-time event. It takes time to develop a meaningful relationship with nature, which is deepened by returning periodically throughout the seasons. Part of the appeal of Forest Therapy Walks is that they’re highly accessible to people with a wide range of fitness conditions and abilities, with only a low level of physical exertion required.
Forest Therapy Walk sessions are available through the Glen Ellyn Park District on September 9th and 16th, October 14th and 21st, and November 11th and 18th, weather permitting. Walks take place at either Lake Ellyn Park or Churchill Park in Glen Ellyn. The cost is $10 for residents, and $15 for non-residents.
“I’m excited to lead these guided meditations for members of the community,” said Hennessey. “They’re so popular at the Morton Arboretum, I know they’ll be well-received here in Glen Ellyn, too. As a society, we’re so disconnected with each other and with nature, and we’re too plugged in to electronics. We can’t care about what we don’t connect with. It’s important to reestablish a connection with nature; it benefits us and the forest, too.”
For more information and to register for the Forest Therapy Walks offered by Retta Hennessey and the Glen Ellyn Park District, please visit www.gepark.org/register, or contact Renae Frigo at [email protected].