Wimberg Landscaping is pleased to share that we are partnering with Pam Lowe Cho, a Certified Forest Therapy guide with Forest Bathing Garden Design, LLC. This unique relationship enables us to create custom meditation gardens by marrying our expert landscape design services with Pam’s expertise in creating areas that evoke quiet contemplation.
Q: Pam, what is Forest Bathing and how is it different than taking a walk in the woods?
A: This is the question I’m most often asked. Forest Bathing is an evidence-based practice where participants are guided in meditations during a slow walk by a certified guide to calm the body and mind. We begin by turning our phones off and sharing an overview of the practice. Participants are then invited to begin their gentle walk, focusing on nature elements to reawaken their five senses – the sound of birds, the scent of the earth, the texture of tree bark, and the patterns on leaves and flower petals. Many of the participants are used to walking briskly outdoors, and not stopping to appreciate the details in nature. For many, finding quiet time with their thoughts – being able to push external distractions and running to-do lists aside – is difficult. A traditional, brisk walk may be physically rewarding, but the mind and body are still unsettled. Forest bathing teaches us how to slow down and be present with nature for restoration and rejuvenation.
Q: How did you begin practicing this very intentional way of being in nature?
A: I love that you use the phrase ‘in nature.’ I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, but during the pandemic I was looking for a way to feel more grounded, centered, and focused. I’ve been an executive coach for 15 years and wanted to find a practice that I could also share with my clients. I was introduced to the practice of forest bathing at the Cincinnati Nature Center in 2021 and decided to earn a certification that included studies in the United States and in Japan. This evidence-based practice that started in Japan in the 1980s is growing rapidly – even medical and psychological practitioners are writing prescriptions for patients for time outdoors through programs like ParkRX and Nature RX here in Cincinnati. There’s extensive research supporting the positive impact nature has on our mental and physical wellbeing, including lessening anxiety and depression symptoms. Just 20 minutes in nature can lower our blood pressure and pulse, give us more clarity, focus, and a sense of calm and hopefulness. This practice has taught my clients and me the profound benefits of spending quiet time in nature.
Q: How did you make the decision to incorporate Forest Bathing into designing meditation gardens?
A: This past year, several of my forest bathing participants asked me to come to their home to design a meditation garden to continue their forest bathing practice. I work with a lot of very busy parents, professionals, caregivers etc. who don’t always have time to visit a park. These gardens are designed to allow people to step outside their door any time of day and find a peaceful place where they can close their eyes, take some deep breaths, and relax. Each Forest Bathing mindfulness garden will reflect the needs of the client whether it’s a place to decompress at the end of the day, honor a loved one, or have a place to connect with small groups of friends. I’m really excited about working alongside the landscape designers at Wimberg Landscaping and leveraging my training in Forest Bathing to create custom mindfulness spaces for our clients.
Q: If a homeowner has a meditation or healing garden inspired by the Forest Bathing practice, how will they undertake the practice if you are not there to guide them?
A: I begin the design process by walking the property with the client and a Wimberg Landscaping designer. We discuss what meditation elements they would like incorporated into the existing or new garden: where they might like to have a “sit spot” or special bench, if they want a water element, wind chimes, a labyrinth, special colors, or scents in their plants. There are many plants and forest bathing element options available depending on how people want to use their space. Once the garden is created and installed, I guide the client through their practice in their garden. Specially placed markers with meditations or a set of cards will guide clients in their forest bathing or meditation practice when they are on their own.
Q: Who do you see benefiting from Forest Bathing or mediative gardens?
A: Everyone can enhance their wellbeing by spending quiet time in a garden or green space. During the past three years, I’ve guided very diverse groups of people including Covid nurses, teachers, executives, high school students, physicians, groups of friends celebrating a birthday, families, and special interest groups. Some are feeling burned out at work, some want a unique healthy way to spend time in community, and some are overwhelmed with the constant pull of electronic communications. Artists can use forest bathing to clear their mind of distractions so their creative process can take hold. I’ve led corporate walks for teams before they began a strategic planning or brainstorming sessions, and professional groups gathering in a friend’s backyard to experience a deeper connection to themselves and each other. That’s the beauty of our forest bathing gardens – they create a setting where we can all strengthen our sense of wellbeing, find peace, and a connection to nature.
