As a breast cancer survivor, I’ve learned that self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline. After months of treatments, scans, and appointments, my body and soul craved something more than just rest. I needed restoration. That’s when I discovered the quiet magic of forest bathing, also known by its Japanese name Shinrin-yoku.

Healing Your Body and Mind with Forest Bathing

Forest bathing isn’t about hiking or exercise. It’s simply the act of immersing yourself in nature, slowing down, and using all your senses to experience the forest. It’s about being, not doing.

And for someone who’s walked the road of breast cancer survival, being present in your own body again is a powerful thing.

Why Forest Bathing Is Self-Care at Its Finest

1. It Calms the Nervous System

During cancer treatment, your body is in constant fight-or-flight mode. The noise of machines, the clinical smells, the tension of waiting for results—it all adds up. Forest bathing helps ease the overactive nervous system. Studies show it lowers cortisol levels (your body’s stress hormone) and decreases blood pressure. For me, standing among trees and listening to birdsong was the first time I truly exhaled after months of holding my breath.

2. It Reconnects You With Your Body

One of the hardest parts of breast cancer is the way it can make you feel disconnected from your own body—like it’s something that betrayed you. Walking slowly through the forest, touching the bark of a tree, or feeling sunlight on your skin reminds you that your body is still capable of experiencing peace, pleasure, and presence.

3. Nature Doesn’t Judge

In the forest, there’s no expectation to look a certain way, to smile through pain, or to have all the answers. Nature embraces you exactly as you are—bald head, scars, emotions and all. It was in the woods that I cried freely, felt my grief, and also found moments of quiet joy. It became a sacred space where I didn’t have to pretend to be “strong.”

4. It Boosts Immunity and Energy

Research suggests that breathing in the natural compounds released by trees—called phytoncides—can help boost natural killer (NK) cells in your immune system. After cancer treatment, your body is often depleted. Forest bathing helped me feel more energized and grounded, even on the days when fatigue lingered.

5. It’s Free and Always Available

Self-care often gets sold to us as something we have to buy—a spa day, an expensive retreat, or the latest wellness gadget. But forest bathing reminds us that healing doesn’t have to come with a price tag. The trees are always there, waiting.

How to Start Your Forest Bathing Practice

You don’t need special gear or experience. Just go to a natural area (even a local park will do), turn off your phone, and walk slowly. Sit on a bench. Watch the wind move through the leaves. Listen for birds, notice the color of the sky, and breathe deeply.

Start with 20 minutes. Let yourself be quiet. Let yourself feel.

Final Thoughts

As a breast cancer survivor, my journey to healing didn’t end with the last round of treatment. It continues every day, in every mindful moment I gift myself. Forest bathing has become a beautiful part of that journey—a way to not only care for my body but also to nurture my spirit.

So if you’re looking for a gentle, soul-affirming practice to add to your self-care routine, I encourage you to step into the forest. You just might find that the path to healing begins with the trees.

🌿💗
With love and healing,
A fellow survivor