Page 18 - ISI_171_AprilMay

Health Care
PAGE 18 IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT • APRIL / MAY 2021

Deborah Goslin, Forest Bathing Guide

SHARING A LIFETIME LOVE OF NATURE

BY GAIL JOKERST

One of the first things Deborah Goslin
learned when she initially heard of Forest
Bathing was that, despite its name, it had
nothing to do with immersing oneself in a
tree-ringed body of water. It did, however,
involve another equally refreshing type of
immersion—soaking up the quietude and
beauty of a woodland atmosphere.
This immersion required using all of
her five senses to laser-focus thought on
the minutest details of what Mother Nature
had put on display. No multitasking was
allowed. Meaning, she didn’t also fish,
hike, or count avian sightings. She just
concentrated on letting her senses draw her
attention to what else inhabited the forest
world with her.
According to Goslin, who describes
herself as being, “passionate about plants
and birds and anything to do with nature,”
any natural outdoor setting can work,
from a seascape to a desert. Furthermore, Deborah Gosline guides Forest Bathing walks, which involve several sensory activities, called Invitations.
it can work in any season, even winter, Here she guides “Texture Gathering” Invitation that involves feeling the roughness, smoothness, or perhaps
slickness of a branch, leaf, flower, or rock. Photo by Nann Parrett.

provided the locale is accessible and free Ever since childhood, Goslin has been a
Dale & Nancy Coffelt from distractions. bit of a wood sprite fascinated by hatching
Dale & Erika McCall For most people, it is more difficult Monarch Butterflies and capturing tadpoles.
than you might expect to walk in the woods “I’ve always been happiest in the woods,
• Funeral Chapel • Pinecrest Memorial Park
• Crematory • Lakeview Cemetery exclusively to search for things to smell or discovering and looking at the small things,”
• Pre-arranged Plans • Services textures to touch for an uninterrupted 20 she remarks. “It puts me in a super-relaxed
minutes—where curiosity and a childlike state of mind.”
(208) 263-3133 | [email protected]
PO Box 949 • 109 North Division Street • Sandpoint sense of adventure replace self-imposed A vivid early memory lingers of her
demands for productivity and efficiency. cupping a stranded baby bird in her six-
“Forest Bathing is similar to Tai Chi year-old hands. “It was a House Sparrow
and yoga in that it makes you slow down that couldn’t fly and landed in my dog’s
and counteract the everyday rush-rush of water bowl,” she recalls. “When I picked it
life. It’s where yoga was 30 years ago. In up, I felt awed to touch something so wild.”
a few years it will probably become more Her trial foray into Forest Bathing gave
208-733-5723 mainstream because it offers exactly what Goslin a feeling of uplift and peace, much
800-788-2843 people need right now,” explains Goslin like when she held that House Sparrow.
who makes her home along the North Burnt The experience confirmed her belief that
489 S. Locust St. Twin Falls ID Fork in the Bitterroot. “You leave the stress spending time outdoors wasn’t merely a
of everyday life and politics behind to be good idea, it was critical to maintaining
here and be present. her sense of harmony. Unsurprisingly, it
For me, it’s been a changed the course of her life.
Closest Hospital to Lake pathway to health Wanting to better understand and share
No Canyons and well-being.” Forest Bathing with others, Goslin read all

Shortest ER Wait Time Considering that she could about it. The book that prompted
Goslin and her hus- her odyssey, The Biofilia Effect: A Scientific
band of 40 years, and Spiritual Exploration of the Healing Bond
164 S. 5th Street Montpelier, Idaho 208.847.1630 www.BLMHospital.com
Bill, both attended Between Humans and Nature, remains an
24/7E mergency

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forestry-related that brought the concept of Forest Bathing
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careers within the to the United States.
2 4 / 7 E M E R G E N C Y Bitterroot National Following its development in Japan during
Celebrating 70 Years!
Forest, it seems fit- the 1980s, Forest Bathing, known as Shinrin-
Bear Lake Memorial Hospital perpetuates and foster access to optimum, high
ting that this new Yoku there and also as Nature or Forest
quality health care for the residents and visitors of the Bear Lake area. This
Hospital was established as a memorial for veterans who had served in the
endeavor would Therapy, has garnered universal interest.
World Wars and now celebrates its 70th Anniversary this past April.
appeal to her. Today, some 1,100 ANFT Certified Forest
Bear Lake Memorial assumes a leadership role in planning for the health care
ne eds of the community and plays a key role in the economic development
of the area. As one of over 1300 Critical Access Hospitals in the nations, they Bathing Guides practice in 55 countries,
have recently been recognized as a Top 20 in best practices for Quality.