Need a reset from city stress? Calgary just got its very first forest bathing trail, and it’s open now at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Think of it as your invitation to slow down, unplug, and soak in nature — no bathtub required.
What is forest bathing
Forest bathing (or shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of “bathing” in the atmosphere of the forest) first started in Japan in the 1980s as a wellness response to stress-filled, urban living. The idea is simple: immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest, and let your body and mind recalibrate.
Research shows it can help reduce stress, boost mood and creativity, and even lower blood pressure. Pretty great for something that just requires showing up in nature, right?
The Inglewood experience
The new trail is a 1 km loop with five unique stations, each offering a sensory “invitation.” At the start, you’ll find a welcome sign with info and printed guides, plus a bin of seat mats and tarps to borrow if you want to sit quietly in the forest.
Each station has a QR code linking to short audio invitations created by local certified forest therapy guide Ken Ouendag. You can pop in your headphones or just read the printed prompts and take a moment to notice the breeze, the light through the trees, or the sound of birds overhead. The first stop offers the longest guidance at a few minutes, and the rest are about a minute each, leaving lots of space to simply… be.
The coolest part is that the invitations change with the seasons. Come back in the crisp fall air, snowy stillness of winter, or full summer bloom and you’ll have a completely new experience every time.
Why it matters
As Carmen Hindson from Calgary Parks puts it: “Truly being in nature, taking time to slow down and really experience the natural world, can reduce stress, improve mood, boost creativity and immunity and even lower blood pressure.”
In a busy city where our days are packed with noise, deadlines, and endless scrolls, this little sanctuary trail is like a mini wellness retreat tucked right inside Calgary.
The Forest Bathing Trail is now open at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Free to use, no booking required. For more details, head to calgary.ca/forestbathing.
So next time you’re feeling frazzled, skip the spa and try trading your phone screen for the sound of rustling leaves.