Sylvothérapie en Alsace – Forest bathing
Why not try sylvotherapy in Alsace? We've tested a number of places where you can enjoy sylvotherapy sessions or forest baths.
What is sylvotherapy?
This ancestral Japanese practice, also known as “Shinrin-yoku” or “forest bath”, consists of plunging into nature to recharge one’s batteries.
If Alsace’s vineyards are legendary, the region’s forests are not to be outdone, offering an experience that awakens all your senses.
Breathing in the fresh air scented by coniferous trees, listening to the melodious songs of birds or touching the rough texture of the bark of hundred-year-old trees, this is an experience to be had in Alsace!
1. Forest bath and sophrology in the Munster Valley
The Vallée de Munster, with its magnificent natural landscapes, offers the ideal setting for a forest bath. Sophrologist Carole Michel offers nature baths and forest baths, sometimes with additional themes such as yoga, snowshoeing or sophrology. I was able to take part in a “Forest bath and sophrology” outing on a beautiful winter afternoon, which was very pleasant!
My summary
I liked
- A moment of disconnection in the forest
- Small exercises for experimenting with the 5 senses
I liked less
- Nothing!
Stroll through the landscapes of the Munster valley
Starting from the Col du Wettstein, a short walk through varied landscapes is planned. Don’t worry, it’s not a long walk, but rather a stroll through nature. The idea is not to do sport, but to move quietly while being attentive to your sensations and to the different places you discover along the way. A dense forest or, on the contrary, a more luminous one, a ridge with a view of the surrounding mountains… In no time at all, you have access to a wide variety of environments, which you can observe to the full.
Sophrology exercises
During the outing, we take advantage of simple sophrology exercises to relax, listen to the sounds of nature, ground ourselves in our bodies and reconnect with the natural environment. These may seem like simple exercises, but they allow you to put your mind at rest and enjoy the experience all the more. I also liked the fact that these activities activate all 5 senses (yes, even taste!). You come out of the activity relaxed, disconnected and with the pleasant feeling of having taken a breath of fresh air among the trees!
Practical information
Rates, dates and reservation
You’ ll find all the practical information you need on Carole’s website.
Access
By car
The meeting point varies, but to give you an idea, I had a meeting point at the Col de Wettstein in Soultzeren, which is in..:
- 30 km from Colmar (approx. 40 minutes)
- 70km from Mulhouse (approx. 1h05)
- 97 km from Strasbourg (approx. 1h25)
By public transport
This is not ideal :-/
2. Night-time forest bathing in Northern Alsace
How would you like to try a forest bath? But not during the day, when it’s easy to get your bearings. No, the sylvotherapy experience offered by Manuela Peschmann, sophrologist and “forest therapist”, is even more unusual and disconcerting, as it’s a nocturnal forest bath she’s offering you. Actually, both day and night forest baths are possible, but I chose to experience the nocturnal version, which intrigued me more.
My summary
I liked
- Walking barefoot in the magnificent forest of the Northern Vosges
- The different exercises proposed: we take our time without getting bored!
- Losing my bearings while being in the forest at night
I liked less
- Nothing!
An immersive sylvotherapy experience in the forest
Manuela offers forest baths lasting about 2 hours in the magnificent forests of the Vosges du Nord regional nature park, in La petite Pierre or in Sparsbach. If you know the area, you should be able to guess why this is the perfect setting! The forests there are beautiful. Manuela lives here and is a real enthusiast, who loves to share moments in the forest with the people participating in her activities.
In a small group, the idea of the forest bath is to take a walk in the forest punctuated by regular breaks and small exercises to become more grounded, to become aware of one’s body, to take a mental break to evacuate stress and to awaken one’s senses, without forgetting, of course, to appreciate the beauty and calm of the forest.
An immersive experience where contact with the forest becomes a source of well-being, going further than a simple walk. The forest bath really encourages you to become more aware of your surroundings. This is all the more true when you take part in the night-time version: the light gradually fades, and you can’t rely on your eyesight any longer… Your other senses take over!
Simple exercises to recharge your batteries
I don’t want to tell you everything, because I think the surprise of discovering the different exercises on offer is part of the experience, but in any case I really enjoyed this forest bath: walking barefoot in the forest, listening to Manuela play the drum in this wonderful setting, paying attention to the different sounds, losing your bearings a little by walking at night between the trees, without any artificial light, enjoying settling down next to a tree and simply being there…
So many moments I’ve enjoyed, offering a much richer experience than what we sometimes tend to sum up as sylvotherapy. No, it’s not (just!) about hugging a tree! 😉 As a result, next time I’d even like to try out another of Manuela’s activities: a night in the forest!
Practical information
Rates, dates and reservation
You can find all the practical information about the activities on Manuela’s website.
Access
By car
The meeting place varies but, to give you an idea, La Petite Pierre is at:
- 67 km from Strasbourg (about 55 minutes)
- 110 km from Colmar (about 1h40)
- 150 km from Mulhouse (about 2 hours)
By public transport
This is not ideal :-/
3. Sylvotherapy in the Haguenau Forest
We didn’t try it out, but it’s also possible to enjoy a session of sylvotherapy in the Forêt de Haguenau. Contact Forêt en soi for more information.