Forest Therapy in Baltimore
TreeBaltimore extends the following invitation to members of the Very Well community. While not affiliated with TreeBaltimore, we deeply believe in their mission.
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Forest therapy is based on forest bathing, a Japanese practice that has re-emerged to help people feel in community with their natural surroundings. The term "forest bath," or shinrin-yoku in Japanese, describes the practice of sensory immersion within a natural setting for the benefit of both the practitioner and the more-than-human world. Widespread evidence points to benefits to human health by simply bathing in the atmosphere of the forest.
Certified forest therapy guide, Teddy Martello (he, they, we), was trained in 2019 with the Association for Nature and Forest Therapy. Representing Baltimore City's Recreation and Parks department, Teddy has guided hundreds of forest bathers who are simply looking for a way to comfortably gather in community in a local park. Every guided walk is an act of power and beauty, cultivating deep connections with transformational impacts on people and nature. Sessions last ninety minutes and cover no more than a quarter of a mile over gentle natural surfaces.
Teddy's personal statement to Very Well's audience:
"I would be honored to welcome you to our circle among the trees. I am curious to see what inspires you, what you are struggling with, or what you are curious about. I aim to nurture heart-centered relationships between all peoples and the more-than-human world of nature. I invite you to steep yourself in your primordial you, be guided by the more-than-human world, notice what you're noticing, and share with others."
Upcoming guided walks in 2025:
Saturday 10/4 meet at W 36th and Beech Ave 2–3:30 pm
Saturday 10/11 meet at W 36th and Beech Ave 2–3:30 pm
Monday 10/13 meet at the Patterson Park duck pond at 12 noon
Saturday 10/25 meet at 1920 Eagle Drive 2–3:30 pm
Sunday 11/2 at meet at W 36th and Beech Ave 2–3:30 pm
The direct registration link is bit.ly/bcrpnaturewalk
Other details:
-Private groups are now closed for the fall season.
-TreeBaltimore is an umbrella organization that oversees tree planting on public land in Baltimore City. It is a program of the Recreation and Parks Department aimed at improving the City's tree canopy.