Forest Bathing + Tea Ceremony with Good Neighbor Iowa

3155 Walnut Woods Drive,West Des Moines IA 50265

19 November, 2022

Description

Are you already feeling anxious about the upcoming hustle and bustle of the holiday season? Stay grounded by carving out space for personal wellness with a guided forest therapy walk! Grounded in evidence-based research, the practice of forest therapy is proven to improve mental health and reduce the physiological effects of stress. This event features a 2-hour forest therapy walk led by Intertwined Nature + Forest Therapy, followed by a tea ceremony in the woods with special guest, Good Neighbor Iowa. Good Neighbor Iowa will share information about fall lawncare techniques that promote healthy soils, protect pollinators, and nurture healthy spaces for human health. More about Forest BathingForest therapy is a practice based on the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku (translated into "forest bathing). This wellness practice boosts immunity, lowers blood pressure & stress hormones, prevents and relieves stress & anxiety, and increases cognitive functioning. Guided forest bathing walks are appropriate for all ages and abilities: less than a ½ mile is covered on each walk. Guides use techniques to support participants in entering a state of embodied awareness, moving through a series of “invitations” to support participants in tuning into each of their senses, allowing participants to move into a liminal space, and experience resulting wellness benefits. More about Good Neighbor IowaGood Neighbor Iowa is a statewide public health education initiative managed in partnership with the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Energy and Environmental Education. Good Neighbor Iowa uplifts pesticide-free lawn management practices, encourages appreciation for diverse lawns, and educates the public on alternative methods of lawn management. Good Neighbor Iowa wants to protect Iowa’s children, pets, water quality, pollinators, and biodiversity from the harmful effects of urban pesticide use. Science-driven evidence has shown that pesticides pose threats to environmental and human health.