What are the benefits of forest bathing, and can slowing down in nature really regulate your nervous system, reduce stress, and help you reconnect with yourself? In this episode of Live Your Jam, Ellen McGinnis sits down with Jenny Harrow-Keeler, founder of Ecowisdom Wellness and a certified nature and forest therapy guide, to explore the science and spirit of forest bathing, also known as the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku. Jenny’s path into this work began after a near-death scooter accident left her with significant physical injuries and an entirely different inner landscape. While recovering, she found herself instinctively returning to the forest. Unable to take the fast, demanding hikes she once enjoyed, Jenny was forced to move slowly. In that stillness, the answers she had been searching for began to emerge. That personal experience eventually led her to study integrative health, ecotherapy, ecopsychology, and the growing research behind forest bathing benefits. Today, Jenny guides others through sensory experiences in nature that shift the body from stress and vigilance into rest, restoration, and deeper connection. Jenny explains that forest bathing is not about exercise, reaching a destination, or accomplishing another task. It is the practice of becoming fully present through sight, sound, touch, smell, curiosity, and wonder. By moving at nature’s pace, we create room for our thoughts to quiet and our inner wisdom to rise. Ellen and Jenny also explore the research behind nature and nervous system regulation, including how compounds released by trees may support cortisol reduction, blood pressure, and immune function. They discuss why awe changes our state of being, how the cycles of nature challenge our culture’s obsession with constant productivity, and why periods of rest are essential to healing and growth. This conversation is an invitation to step away from the noise, notice the living world around you, and remember that you are not separate from nature. You are part of it. You will learn: What forest bathing is and how shinrin-yoku worksThe difference between forest bathing and hiking for exerciseHow nature supports nervous system regulation and stress reductionWhat phytoncides are and how the body may respond to themWhy slowing down can feel uncomfortable in a productivity-driven cultureHow sensory awareness brings the body into the present momentWhy awe and wonder can shift your emotional and physical stateHow nature can help you access clarity, intuition, and inner wisdomWhat seasonal cycles teach us about rest, burnout, and sustainable growthHow forest bathing can create space for grief and emotional releaseWhy forests can remind us that we are supported and never truly aloneSimple forest bathing practices you can use anywhere, including in a city 👉 Watch the full conversation and subscribe for more stories about intuition, purpose, and living your jam. We talk about: 00:00 Intro 00:53 What if slowing down is the medicine you need? 03:08 Jenny’s near-death accident and unexpected path to healing 05:04 Discovering ecotherapy, integrative health, and forest bathing 07:20 Turning a personal healing practice into Ecowisdom Wellness 09:08 What forest bathing is and how a guided session works 12:00 How nature activates the body’s rest-and-digest response 16:13 Why slowing down can initially feel difficult or annoying 18:22 Using the senses, movement, awe, and wonder to become present 22:15 The Japanese origins of shinrin-yoku and forest therapy 23:45 Forest bathing benefits for cortisol, blood pressure, and immunity 28:20 How nature helps us hear our inner wisdom 30:01 What wildfire regeneration can teach us about healing 34:24 The breakthroughs people experience during forest bathing 37:57 Why humans cannot live in “summer energy” all year 41:43 Simple forest bathing practices you can use every day 46:32 How trees communicate through roots and mycelial networks 50:02 Plant intelligence, consciousness, and The Telepathy Tapes 53:21 Jenny’s work with Ecowisdom Wellness Connect with Linda Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecowisdomSubstack: https://substack.com/@ecowisdomWebsite: https://www.ecowisdomwellness.comExperiences: https://www.ecowisdomwellness.com/experiencesBook and Podcast we recommend: https://www.peterwohllebenbooks.com/the-hidden-life-of-trees Connect with Ellen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveyourjam LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/optimalleader/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveyourjam YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnj7_LS2kaxfyPsAd1Hne8g Website: https://liveyourjam.com/