Come join us for a calming forest bathing workshop at Ernest E. Debs Park in Los Angeles. Please see the invite below for more details, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Please RSVP to LADN.home@gmail.com if you'd like to attend.
What: Join us for a forest bathing workshop to calm the nervous system and re-connect with nature. We will be guided by the renowned Ben Page for a relaxing experience of Forest Bathing, also known as Shinrin Yoku or Forest Therapy. This is an opportunity to slow down and get our 5 senses in tune with the trees and nature that surround us and experience a mindful journey in a beautiful Los Angeles park. If you want to learn more about Forest Bathing and the health benefits associated with it, check out this article.
When: Sunday, April 30th, 4:00-5:15pm. Please do your best to arrive on time, as this guided workshop will start promptly at 4:00pm.
Where: Ernest E. Debs Park, 4235 Monterey Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90032. There is plenty of free parking available in the park’s main parking lot, including some handicap spots. We will have blue and purple balloons at the picnic table where we are meeting, so that you can easily locate us. It is a short walk from the parking lot to our workshop area, so if you use a mobility aid, we recommend bringing that as well!
Refreshments: We will have some small bottles of water available for you, and you are of course welcome to bring any drinks/snacks for yourself that you’d like.
Temperature: We'll be outdoors, and there are some trees around for shade. But you may want to bring a hat/sunglasses/sunscreen if you are sensitive to sun exposure. We recommend dressing in layers to stay comfortable.
A note about COVID/general safety: We will be outside and expect everyone to take the necessary precautions to maintain everyone's health. If you have any (contagious) symptoms, please do not attend. Masking is optional. Be aware this event is at a public park where there will be members of the general public around. By attending this event, you agree not to hold LADN or our guide liable for any risks (COVID or otherwise) associated with gathering. Thank you for understanding, and please feel free to reach out with any questions.
RSVP to LADN.home@gmail.com by April 26th so that we can give our guide an accurate head count ahead of time! Thank you!
About our forest bathing guide, Benjamin Page:
Ben Page is a Forest Therapy Guide, global advocate for the practice and the author of Healing Trees: A Pocket Guide to Forest Bathing. He is the founder of the Shinrin Yoku LA and Integral Forest Bathing and has been guiding Forest Therapy walks since 2015. During his tenure as a trainer and mentor of guides, Ben has trained hundreds of guides around the world. From 2017-2020, he also served as the Director of Training for the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs, specializing in curriculum and pedagogical design. Since his practice began, Ben has been featured in such publications as Women’s Health, USA TODAY, Good Morning America, The Washington Post, and WebMD. Ben is also the co-founder of The Open School, Southern California’s only free democratic school. He holds a B.A. in religious studies from Carleton College and an M.A. in human development and social change from Pacific Oaks College.