Rich in native plant life and nestled into the Estero River, the Happehatchee Center, in Estero, provides ample opportunities to experience the benefits of forest therapy. Also known as Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese term for “taking in the forest atmosphere”, the center suggests visits on Fridays to meditate among the many trees or to enjoy one of their yoga classes in nature.

According to Taoist masters, the scope of trees’ energy goes far beyond turning carbon dioxide into oxygen; they can also absorb negative energy and transform it into positive evidenced through the phenomenon of earthing, or grounding.

Benefits of Shinrin-yoku can include boosts in immune system functioning, with an increase in the count of the body’s natural killer (NK) cells; reduced blood pressure and stress; improvements in mood, ability to focus, even in children with ADHD; recovery from surgery or illness, energy levels, sleep, energy flow; and capacity to communicate with the land and its species.

Location: 8791 Corkscrew Rd. For more information, visit Happehatchee.org.