Permission to let go.
RELAXING FOREST BATHING EXPERIENCES IN THE HELSINKI REGION
Stressed? Exhausted? Glued to your phone? Time for a reset.
Let’s step into the forest – together.
Modern life overloads us: work pressure, digital fatigue, stress, poor sleep, lack of focus, even burnout. And we spend far too little time in nature.
The forest is the perfect antidote – a space of calm, clarity, and connection. When you pause, nature restores your balance.
I'm Kaisu Maijala – M.Sc., wilderness guide, forest bathing instructor, and nature well-being expert. I’ll guide you into the woods to reconnect with peace, joy, presence, and meaning.
Join a SOWL Forest Bathing session and start your rest & reset.
The forest comforts, calms, heals, recharges, refreshes, enchants, and restores perspective.
Old trees hold quiet wisdom. Still and strong, they grow through storms and seasons, offering a peaceful presence. Like generations before us, we can lay our burdens at their roots.
The trees wait patiently—and welcome you just as you are.
The forest doesn’t judge or demand. It accepts you and gently invites you to pause.
For thousands of years, people across cultures have felt the healing power of nature. Now, science is beginning to understand it. Nature doesn't just feel good—it does good.
Nature’s researched health and well-being benefits include:
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What happens in your body during nature immersion?
Stress levels drop, and the parasympathetic nervous system activates—kickstarting recovery
Heart rate slows, heart rate variability improves, and blood pressure decreases
Fatigue fades, sleep quality improves, and physical activity feels easier
The senses sharpen and digestion becomes more active
Aromatic compounds (monoterpenes) from trees boost mood, reduce inflammation, act as antioxidants, and support immunity
Clean air refreshes and diversifies your microbiome, lowering the risk of immune-related diseases
Natural killer cells increase in number and activity, enhancing the body’s defense against illness and even cancer
Low-grade inflammation decreases, and your pain threshold rises
Sleep quality improves
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What happens in your mind and emotions in nature?
Deep relaxation and presence in the moment
Worry and negative thoughts decrease
Anxiety and tension ease
Positive emotions, happiness, and optimism grow
Self-reflection becomes easier
Resilience (mental flexibility and emotional strength) improves
Cognitive restoration:
– Thoughts become clearer
– Focus returns
– Learning and memory improve
– Problem-solving and decision-making get easier
– Creativity and intuition are enhancedA stronger sense of meaning and life satisfaction
Feelings of pleasure and vitality
Self-esteem and self-compassion increase
Time feels more spacious and balanced
Inner harmony and a sense of being nourished
Feelings of reverence, awe, and the sacred
A deep sense of connection—to all that exists
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What happens in your relationships and social self?
It becomes easier to see yourself and others in a positive light
Willingness to collaborate and help increases
Listening, empathy, and openness deepen
Courage and playfulness emerge
Emotional intelligence becomes more sensitive
Disruptive behavior decreases
Feelings of loneliness ease
A sense of connection and group spirit grows
*Arvonen, S. (2014). Metsämieli. Luonnollinen menetelmä mielentaitoihin. 2. painos. Metsäkustannus Oy.
*Leppänen, M., Pajunen, A. (2017). Terveysmetsä. Tunnista ja koe elvyttävä luonto. Gummerus Kustannus Oy, Helsinki.
*Leppänen, M., Pajunen, A. (2019). Suomalainen metsäkylpy. Gummerus Kustannus Oy, Helsinki.
*Qing, Li (2018). Forest Bathing. The Japanese art and science of shinrin-yoku. How trees can help you find health and happiness. 7th printing. Viking, New York.
*https://www.allergia.fi/jarjesto/tutkimus/luontoterveys/tietoa-luontoterveydesta/
Reduction in cortisol levels in natural environments
What is Forest Bathing?
Forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) is a nature-based practice that originated in Japan in the 1980s, when researchers began studying the healing power of nature as a response to the rising stress and burnout among urban workers.
It involves slowing down and spending unhurried, mindful time in the forest—engaging all the senses to absorb its therapeutic atmosphere.
During a forest bathing experience, we pause, settle into silence, and breathe in the forest air, rich in natural aromatic compounds that benefit both body and mind. Guided sessions include simple mindfulness, breathing, and sensory awareness exercises (or “invitations”) that gently help you let go of everyday stress and reconnect with the present moment.
Forest bathing is a unique blend of science and soul: it supports physical and mental recovery, deepens our connection to nature, and opens the door to feelings of joy, clarity, and inner peace. Many describe it as a sense of coming home to oneself.
In a SOWL Forest Bathing session, we invite you to tune into nature’s healing rhythms through guided, mindfulness-like meditations—designed to restore, ground, and uplift
The forest calls you when you need to pause and recharge.
The forest calls your team when you need a break and a meaningful shared experience.
How did it feel to listen? Did your mind already wander into the forest?
What is SOWL?
SOUL – listen to your inner voice
SLOW – slow down and pause
OWL – tune into nature’s ancient wisdom
Together, they form SOWL (pronounced “soul”) .
It’s about allowing yourself to rest, being present, grounding yourself in your body, gaining insights and new perspectives from a state of ease, and appreciating the miracle of life—here and now.
SOWL sessions are also ideal for work communities and groups as part of wellness or team days. Nature offers support for health, genuine connection and creativity.
Each experience is unique, shaped by where you are on your personal path. Afterwards, you may feel:
relaxed
calm
free
peaceful
grateful
renewed
happy
Let the forest bring you back to yourself. You’ll feel the change.
In SOWL Forest Bathing, you have a permission to let go of…
the rush
the worries
the to-do lists
the pressure
the responsibility
the constant phone checking
the past and the future
the roles and expectations
the need to stay in control and be strong
the feeling of not being enough
– Let go of it all.
Simply be.
Be free.
“Kaisu’s greatest strength is her calm presence and ability to truly be in the moment. She has deep expertise in the well-being effects of nature and a rare talent for guiding people back to the essentials. Kaisu shares her knowledge in a clear and engaging way, and her own strong connection with nature comes through in an empowering, heartfelt way.”
— Elisa, 43, Helsinki
Nature constantly teaches me new things about myself and the world. In my blog, you can explore my nature experiences in Finland and beyond.
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SOWL operates responsibly—protecting both nature and human well-being.
SOWL is an official partner of Metsähallitus (Finnish Forest Administration). All walks follow Metsähallitus’ outdoor etiquette and zero-waste principles.
Products used during the walks are durable and chosen with minimal environmental impact in mind. Excursions take place in nearby nature destinations in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
Each walk is backed by a safety and rescue plan. The guide holds a valid first aid certification (NOLS Wilderness First Aid, 04/2024) and carries a first aid kit.
All SOWL walks are discrimination-free zones—welcoming and safe for everyone.
To reduce emissions, we recommend arriving by bike, public transport, or shared rides whenever possible.
We support local livelihoods and entrepreneurs through our purchases and partnerships.
SOWL holds a Good Travel Seal sustainability certificate (2025) and is on the Visit Finland Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) certification path.
We are a member of the Helsingin Tekijät network and a Sustainable Development Network Partner of Visit Espoo.
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The state of Finland’s forests is alarming—due to shrinking carbon sinks, the scarcity of old-growth natural forests, and accelerating biodiversity loss.
SOWL donates 1% of its income to the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation’s “Suomen Metsä” (Forest of Finland) campaign. The goal of the campaign is to raise funds to establish a new protected forest area in southern Finland—primarily in Uusimaa, where conservation is most urgently needed and least represented.
Read more about the project and donate here:
https://luonnonperintosaatio.fi/kampanjat/suomen-metsa/
"Kaisu was knowledgeable, and her deep respect for nature truly shone through."
— Jussi, 37, Helsinki
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