208. Forest Bathing Makes You Healthier and Happier with Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmille

The Mindful Healers Podcast with Dr. Jessie Mahoney and Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang

What is forest bathing?

How does forest bathing impact mental health? How does it impact physical health?

Nature is medicine.

Forest = For Rest

There have been many studies to show that forest bathing and simply being in nature is a way to decrease stress and improve well-being. It improves mental and physical health conditions. It impacts both our vital signs and our outlook.

Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmille, MD, FACOG, ABoIM is board-certified in integrative medicine and ObGyn. She has additional certifications in herbal medicine, Ayurveda, and meditation. She is also certified as a Forest Bathing Therapist through The Association of Nature and Forest Bathing and she is the author of The Outdoor Adventurer’s Guide to Forest Bathing.

In this episode, Doc Suzy shares her compelling and emotional story.

She discovered integrative medicine and forest bathing. when she began seeking answers to burnout as an ObGYN on top of navigating having an autistic child and a husband diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.

Forest bathing, just like mindfulness, is primarily about noticing. It is also a practice of using all your senses. Listen to the episode to learn how to forest bathe.

Suzy recommends a pyramid approach to forest bathing. This means, if possible, we should celebrate the awe and wonder of what we notice in nature amidst significant natural wonders (such as national parks) regularly. A plug to join us in Muir Woods, at Muir Beach, and in the gardens of the Green Gulch Farm and Zen Center for Connect in Nature. Our location is a site of much awe-inspiring nature. This is the last year we will host Connect in Nature in this location. Next year we will be moving this event to a TBD different spectacular spot in nature.

Dr. Bartlett Hackenmille explains that we can also practice forest bathing weekly in urban local parks, botanical gardens, arboretums, and/or daily in our backyard. We can even practice nature therapy/nature medicine with a potted plant and/or on a construction site.

We highly recommend Suzy's gorgeous book which is full of color pictures and a myriad of invitations to practice forest bathing.

How might you like to practice more “nature medicine”? Where could you forest bathe today? This week? This year?

Why not forest bathe with us in Muir Woods at Connect in Nature Sept 6-8th. ?

If those dates don't work for you, consider signing up to forest bathe with Jessie at a Nicasio Creek Farm Wellness Retreat in October or, November 2024 or at Sagrada Wellness in November 2024, There are also many date options for Pause & Presence nature-based retreats in 2025.

Today's Mindful Moment offering is a forest bathing meditation guided by Dr. Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller. For podcast listeners, please find a photo of your ideal forest space for this practice or listen outside.

You can find Dr Suzanne at @docsuzy on IG or at her website www.integrativeinitiative.com.

Move beyond consuming this amazing podcast. True change happens when you work with us - virtually and/or in-person.

If you can't make it to a retreat soon, coach with Jessie virtually 1:1 or in a small group. Coaching also helps you become happier and healthier. www.jessiemahoneymd.com

Hire Ni-Cheng, Jessie, or both of us to give a keynote talk or lead a workshop or breakout session on any topic covered in the Mindful Healers Podcast. We also create team retreats, teach yoga, and offer experiential mindfulness for teams, groups, grand rounds, institutions, and conferences.

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*Nothing shared in the Mindful Healers Podcast is medical advice.

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