Stop for a moment. Listen to yourself. Are your mind and body tensed up? Are you feeling lethargic or exhausted? Let the forest nurture you – it’s all free!
Health Forest is a scientifically proven method that helps to improve your wellbeing. The method can be utilised by anyone by themselves or together with their loved ones. It is also a form of healthcare service.
It is a simple, low-cost and equal method that helps you to stop and examine the details of nature: you rest and experience the beauty, you are comforted, you move and enjoy, and you are truly alive. You create a better connection to yourself and your life.
The method has been developed for years in partnership with healthcare and social welfare professionals, and it is based on the latest research data.
Stress, fatigue or depression? Let the forest nurture you
The forest looks after everyone who is responsive and makes themselves available. The forest may be of great help, for example, in treating stress, fatigue and depression.
When equipped with the goggles of Health Forest, you will learn to identify features in the forest that particularly increase wellbeing.
I had moderate depression, and the forest had a positive effect on it… the stress was relieved there. Afterwards I felt great and had a good night’s sleep. These days I’m doing this all the time!”
With the Health Forest method, you can speed up recovery from an illness and cope better in a difficult phase in your life.
Step inside Health Forest – try it for yourself
Katso ohjattu video
Astu Terveysmetsään kokeilemalla Metsä yksinäisyys harjoitetta (Youtube).
Read our blog and follow us on social media
We provide information and tips in the Health Forest blog.
You can also follow us on social media: Facebook.
Read our books (Sorry, only available in Finnish so far)
If you want to embrace the lessons of the Health Forest method as a travelling companion or, for example, on your own nature treks, we recommend the Health Forest book.
It provides an extensive overview of the Health Forest thinking while opening your eyes to the many types of nature that support wellbeing.
The book is lightweight and easy to pop into your rucksack when walking on a nature trail – and it’s also good company round a camp fire.
Learn more about our other books too!
Find your way to a health forest or health nature trail
A health forest as a concrete place is a woodland area with more than an average amount of location features that increase wellbeing. It may be a dedicated trail equipped with structures for experiencing the wellbeing impacts of nature. Or it can be your very own secret place.
Health Forests have been established, for example, in the following towns: Hyvinkää (hyvinkaa.fi), Lahti (lahti.fi), Kajaani (kajaani.fi) and Kouvola (kouvola.fi). The health forests in the last three towns are linked to the adjacent hospital.
There are health nature trails for example, in Vartiosaari (sitra.fi) and Pornaistenniemi (vihreatsylit) in Helsinki and in Liessaari in Lohja (lohja.fi). On a health nature trail, you will learn new and fascinating facts about nature, you will relax and be refreshed and recharged. You can try simple exercises that increase your connection to nature.
More ways to participate!
Would you like to join us and spread the word about Health Forest? Your next read “Support, take part and spread the word about Health forest”.
Even a doctor can refer you to a Health Forest
You may get a doctor’s referral to a Health Forest. This means taking part in a series of nature treks led by a trained guide. The series consists of seven nature treks.
The treks include various forest therapeutic exercises to help you stop, sense and observe nature, learn new things and create a stronger connection to yourself and to nature. Your mood will be boosted and your inner resources are revived along with taking part in the series of treks. You will get tips on how nature can support your wellbeing even in the long term.
