Although Japan is more than 8,000 kilometers away, “Invisible Vilnius” invites you to try wellness practices from the Land of the Rising Sun in the capital and presents 10 of the most suitable places for this, according to a press release from the Vilnius City Municipality.
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“We, living or visiting Vilnius, are very lucky. We can experience nature therapy without leaving the city, as we have so many green zones here – forests, reserves, parks – which we even call the city jungle. So it was only a matter of time before we invited people to try forest bathing in Vilnius and created a list of recommended places and exercises. This summer can be different if we try to discover the forest within ourselves and feel that green Vilnius can strengthen and heal,” says Sonata Griškienė, head of “Invisible Vilnius.”
This is not a usual route, but 10 separate trail routes that are not specially prepared or marked, so it is important to follow the provided links and coordinates while traveling. The trails are about 2–4 km long, but it is recommended to spend at least 2–3 hours on them, not counting steps, but performing the described practices. The places for forest bathing were selected and the invitations for the practices prepared by Liudas Basiulis, a forest bathing specialist.
“We no longer know how to just be in the forest. A modern person even brings the city rhythm into the forest: music plays in the headphones, the phone beeps in the hand, and work spins in the head. Silence scares us. Forest bathing invites you to allow yourself to do nothing and understand that time spent under a tree, by a stream, or in another natural environment is one of the best investments in your health. During a regular walk or hike, we move from point A to point B, often rushing or counting steps, kilometers. In forest bathing, there is no goal. Here, movement is very slow, and the most important tool becomes our five senses: we smell the scent of moss, touch the bark of trees, listen to sounds. It is a transition from constant thinking mode to feeling,” emphasizes L. Basiulis.
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According to the forest bathing specialist, Vilnius has a unique luxury – incredibly varied and different forests. Therefore, to reveal this diversity, he tried to select one trail for forest bathing in different parts of the city. For example, Ribiškės, Ančučiai, and Pavilniai surprise with hills and valleys, Verkiai and Kalnų Park have strong historical energy, Bukčiai forest is full of natural treasures, Karoliniškės offers wonderful panoramas over the Neris River, and Valakupiai pine forests have beaches. Each place has its unique atmosphere, so there are different practices there, such as wading in a stream, hugging an oak, talking to a stone, and others. Their roots lie in the Japanese Shinrin-yoku tradition, but they are also very close to the old Lithuanian culture, where the connection with the forest was alive and sacred.
“Vilnius is ideal for forest bathing. The goal of this nature therapy is not to find a completely sterile, isolated place, but to learn to focus attention. When you focus your gaze on the texture of a tree or listen to a bird’s song, the city noise naturally recedes into the background. Science has already proven that being in the forest reduces stress hormones, slows the heart rate, and strengthens immunity. People feel this intuitively – forest bathing has become popular because it is a simple, free, and effective way to return to inner balance,” offers the forest bathing specialist as a recipe for well-being – to spend time in the forest.
The prepared forest bathing routes can be tried independently, without a guide.
You can find the forest bathing routes with practices HERE.
