Forest bathing: slow down and immerse yourself
Count me among those who are proud that Jackson County has two fully accessible certified forest therapy trails, two of only 21 worldwide with that particular certification.
One is a mile-long paved track along the Tuckasegee River near Webster and Cullowhee. The other is the unpaved lower portion of the Pinnacle Park.
You can look at the map online at the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy programs and see the two Jackson County trails listed.
“The certified forest therapy trail at the Jackson County Greenway stands as both a celebration of partnership and a commitment to community wellbeing — a model for how accessible public lands can nurture both ecological and human health,” said Debby Singleton, a retired Western Carolina University professor and founding member of the nonprofit group Friends of Jackson County Greenways, in an article in last week’s Smoky Mountain News.
Singleton is a certified forest therapy guide who touts the benefits of slowing down while in nature, known as “forest bathing.” Many of us decide to go for a hike and it’s all about going from point A to point B, getting so many miles or steps in, or making it to the summit of a particular peak. While that’s all well and good, there are other benefits that come from slowing down while under a tree canopy, walking slowly along a creek or putting down some ground cover in an open meadow and just looking at the sky.
“With forest bathing, it’s just all about slowing down, slowing your heart rate down, taking time to notice and observe. And as a guide, I provide these prompts or invitations to help the participants do that,” said Singleton.
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Many live in this region because of its outdoor amenities, but a lot of people don’t take advantage of our forests and waterways. In truth, as our lives become more reliant on technology, our connection to nature suffers. Many studies have shown that spending time outdoors provides physical and mental health benefits.
Way back in the mid-2000s I read an interview that I remember to this day. The Sun, an eclectic and iconic magazine out of Chapel Hill, featured an interview with Richard Louv, a journalist and the author of several books.
That interview way back then was about his latest book, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.” After reading about the therapy trails in Jackson County, I went back online to read that interview with Louv. Here’s the magazine teaser about his book:
“In the days before sprawling residential subdivisions, children at play could often be seen traipsing through meadows or climbing trees. Now it’s more common to find boys and girls being shuttled from school to computer to soccer practice as part of a fast-paced schedule that leaves little time for daydreaming or exploring nature. The result, says journalist Richard Louv, is ‘nature-deficit disorder.’ Louv coined this term, which is not a medical diagnosis, to call attention to the absence of nature in children’s lives. In his newest book, he ties the lack of time spent in nature to everything from childhood obesity to psychological disorders. Suburban sprawl and busy schedules are just two factors keeping children out of nature, Louv says. Others include the strict focus on academics, what he calls the “criminalization of play,” media-fueled fear of child abductions and overzealous environmental campaigns.
Making connections to nature, to the outdoors, is what makes us human and centers us. So, again, way to go Singleton, Jackson County Recreation Department and everyone else who played a part in this endeavor. It’s one more reason I love calling this place home.
(Scott McLeod can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
Check it out
A dedication for the new therapy trail will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Locust Creek Trailhead in Sylva.
