The art of Forest Bathing Spa in Encino Hills | Creative Chakra Spa & Yoga Eco Retreat Spa Wellness Bungalow
- Origin: The term was coined by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in 1982. It was intended as a public health initiative to combat stress and encourage people to reconnect with and protect the nation's forests.
- Purpose: The goal is to relax and de-stress, using nature as a form of preventive healthcare.
- How to practice: You don't need to hike or exercise intensely. The practice simply involves:
- Walking slowly through a forest or other natural garden setting.
- Engaging your senses to fully experience your surroundings.
- This can include listening to birds, touching leaves and trees, and breathing in the the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide or even the forest air. Being at one with the tree.
- Health benefits: Scientific studies have shown that shinrin-yoku can offer significant health benefits, such as:
- Lowering blood pressure
- Reducing stress hormones
- Improving immune function
- Alleviating anxiety and depression
Experience the art of forest bathing and holistic spa therapies at Creative Chakra Spa & Yoga Eco Retreat in Encino Hills. Reconnect with nature, mindful, restorative balance, and rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit. Fountains flowing, and it feels like a tropical rainforest upon entering with cool filtered misters in the greenery.
(Please note: this is a seasonal spa garden complete with 23 fruit trees, a living botanical eco system, and in the winter our largest canopy tree, sheds its leaves, so forest bathing is not applicable in the winter months. We suggest deeper meditative spa therapies like dead sea mud wraps, shirodhara and hydrotherapy)
Reconnect with Nature at Creative Chakra Spa & Yoga Eco Retreat at the Spa Wellness Bungalow
At Creative Chakra Spa & Yoga Eco Retreat in Encino Hills, wellness is more than spa treatments—it’s a holistic journey into nature, mindfulness, and self-care. Our retreat seamlessly integrates forest bathing (Shinrin-Yoku), yoga, meditation, and luxury spa therapies to support your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Forest bathing is a mindful immersion in nature that restores balance, calms the mind, and rejuvenates the body. By incorporating this ancient practice into our eco retreat, we provide a transformative experience for anyone seeking stress relief, spiritual connection, and total wellness.
The spa room is a nature immersion under the tree arbors by the guava and mulberry tree complete with air-conditioning on hotter days. A tropical style spa retreat. Also the environment is great for healthy air flow and "environment sensitivity", an overload of urban life. Quiet and tranquil.
The Great Outdoors: Nature and the mind-a new book by Marc G. Berman Phd
The science of how nature improves cognitive, physical and social well being. This new field of environmental neuroscience is where we see how the physical environment that surrounds us actually affects brain functioning with environmental psychology.
This is fascinating knowing that feeling you get when on a walk in nature or on vacation and you finally unwind. This therapy is so good for ADHD or Depression and just in general for every living soul. Peace and serenity is yours at Creative Chakra.
What is Forest Bathing?
Originating in Japan in the 1980s, Shinrin-Yoku encourages full sensory engagement with nature—listening to birds, noticing sunlight through leaves, inhaling fresh scents, and feeling the textures of plants and trees, the fresh air off the mountains..
Inspired by Shinto and Buddhist traditions that honor the natural world, forest bathing is a structured wellness practice with scientifically validated benefits. At Creative Chakra Spa, it’s fully integrated into our eco retreat experience, complementing spa treatments, yoga, and meditation sessions.
The Science-Backed Benefits of Forest Bathing
Spending time in nature is not just relaxing—it’s healing. Studies show that forest bathing improves both physical and mental health. At our Encino Hills retreat, guests experience benefits including:
Stress Reduction & Calm: Lowers cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate for deep relaxation.
Enhanced Immune Function: Phytoncides released by trees boost natural defenses and reduce inflammation.
Mood & Mental Clarity: Reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression, and mental fatigue.
Cognitive Boost: Improves focus, creativity, and emotional resilience.
Deep Spiritual Connection: Fosters awe, gratitude, and a sense of interconnectedness with nature.
Mindful Awareness: Heightens sensory perception and encourages presence in the moment.
Complementary Healing: Amplifies the effects of spa therapies, meditation, and yoga.
Holistic Wellness: Supports body, mind, and spirit in a natural, serene environment.
Even brief sessions—whether walking in our beautiful gardens or meditating in the forested area—can deliver meaningful health and emotional benefits. so build time to relax before or after your spa therapy.
Forest Bathing Experiences at Our Eco Retreat
At Creative Chakra Spa & Yoga, forest bathing is woven into every aspect of your visit:
Nature Immersion: Slow, mindful stroll through shaded garden areas or relax under the arbors of the hammocks, many relaxation areas such as the spa lanai or the orchard. The sun sets gloriously in the west of the garden through the tree arbors.
Outdoor Yoga & Meditation: Connect body and breath in tranquil natural settings.
Integrative Spa Treatments: Combine massages, aromatherapy, and chakra balancing with forest immersion.
Private Retreat Options: Tailor your visit for total rejuvenation, including personalized spa and forest sessions.
Whether it’s a gentle walk, a meditation session, or a luxurious spa day surrounded by nature, forest bathing enhances the transformative power of your retreat. Additionally, we are 5 mins from the walking trails if you wish to hike in santa monica mountains before your spa journey begins.
Why Choose Creative Chakra Spa & Yoga Eco Retreat
Our retreat is designed for guests who seek wellness, luxury treatments, privacy (unlike the busy main street spas), and a nature connection, plus almost 25yrs of business, this is our new evolution of spa wellness (we also take insurance):
Private, serene eco retreat setting in Encino Hills & Tarzana Safari Walk
Expertly guided forest bathing experiences
Yoga and meditation amidst lush greenery (its seasonal too!). Right now pomegranates, chinese dates, figs, lemons, grapefruits are in season.
Eco-friendly spa therapies using organic products
Nature-full views, peaceful serenity and fresh air
Holistic integration of mind, body, and spirit wellness
Take the First Step Toward Wellness
Reconnect with nature, restore your energy, and embrace holistic well-being. Book your eco retreat experience today at Creative Chakra Spa & Yoga and immerse yourself in the healing power of forest bathing, spa therapies, and mindful practices. Some things we learned in the pandemic was to be out in the open air whenever possible:)
Why does a walk outside feel so good — and is it universal? Science is, in its own way, looking to answer that question definitively. As we discuss in today’s issue, so far evidence is pointing to nature’s impact on us as both real and powerful.
Of course, countless numbers of campers, backpackers, and even city-dwellers who frequent parks don’t feel the need to wait for a consensus. They already know intuitively that, as John Muir put it, “in every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”