A woman standing in front of a large hollow tree trunk in a dense forest, wearing a red vest and beige pants, looking upward.

Create a Deeper Relationship With Nature

Heart Felt Nature & Forest Therapy offers guided experiences in Los Angeles and Ventura County for people going too fast, for too long, and are quietly ready for something different. 

Through gentle, sensory-led walks in nature, you’re invited to slow your body, soften your attention, reconnect with the living breathing world and with yourself.

I’m Deborah Ackrich, founder of Heart Felt Nature & Forest Therapy, certified Nature & Forest Bathing Practitioner through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT).

Nature is not something we visit. It’s something we belong to. Nature is our Nature.

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Different from a Hike

Forest Bathing (also known as Nature & Forest Therapy) is a slow, meditative practice rooted in the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku. It’s not about doing it right, it’s about being open to what unfolds. And what feels right for you. All is welcome

This is an open-ended, guided experience that invites you into a deeper relationship of reciprocity, where you meet nature in a way that supports the wholeness and well-being of you both.

You’re guided through a gentle sequence of invitations that awaken your senses, encourage curiosity, and allow meaningful moments to unfold naturally with plenty of room for creativity, play, rest, and surprise.

Woman with curly dark hair and glasses leaning against a tree, smiling, with green foliage in the background.

About Deborah Ackrich

I’m Deborah Ackrich, founder of Heart Felt Nature & Forest Therapy. I am a certified Nature & Forest Bathing Practitioner through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT).

I guide people into slow, sensory-based experiences in nature that support connection, wholeness, and well-being — not by fixing or directing, but by creating space for relationship to unfold.

My work is rooted in a simple belief: Nature is not something we visit. It’s something we belong to. Nature is our Nature.

Learn more

Forest Bathing: A Guided Nature & Forest Therapy Experience

Join us for a slow, sensory immersion in nature designed to support calm, connection, and presence. This guided Forest Bathing walk offers an opportunity to step out of urgency and into a relationship — with the land, with your senses, and with yourself.

  • Forest Bathing (Nature & Forest Therapy) is a research-based, meditative practice inspired by the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku.

    This is not a hike.
    It is not a naturalist walk.
    There is no goal to achieve.

    Instead, the experience unfolds through a sequence of gentle, guided invitations that encourage you to engage the natural world through all of your senses.

    • A grounding welcome to arrive fully in the space

    • Slow, mindful movement through the landscape

    • Invitations for sensory exploration, reflection, and play

    • Time for quiet noticing and optional sharing

    • A closing circle, often with a simple herbal tisane

    The walk lasts approximately 2.5 hours and requires no special skills or physical exertion.

  • Participants commonly experience:

    • Reduced stress and anxiety

    • A sense of grounding and calm

    • Improved mood and focus

    • Feelings of joy, connection, and ease

    Research also shows Forest Bathing can:

    • Lower cortisol and blood pressure

    • Support immune function

    • Enhance attention and memory

    But most simply, people leave feeling more connected and less overwhelmed.

  • This walk is well-suited for:

    • Overwhelmed professionals and caregivers

    • Creatives and seekers

    • People navigating life transitions

    • Anyone open to slowing down and exploring

    Because of the slow, meditative nature of the experience, participants are encouraged to be 12 years and older.

  • To support your comfort, please bring:

    • Comfortable clothing and layers

    • Closed-toe walking shoes

    • Water

    • Sunscreen and/or insect repellent, if desired

    Please silence your phone during the walk.

    Mats will be provided when sitting.

Let's Walk Together

What People Are Saying

  • "The forest became a gentle therapist, offering insight, perspective, and connection."

    — Carrie A.

  • "I was skeptical. Then I found myself becoming part of the forest."

    — Linda I.

  • "Every walk leaves me calmer, breathing more deeply, and feeling a greater sense of well-being."

    — Michele B.