Our mission is to share the healing power of Earth with everyone through guided experiences that connect us to the beauty and vibrancy of the natural world.

What is Shinrinyoku?

Forest Bathing, known as Shinrinyoku was established in 1982 by the Japan Ministry of Forestry, Agriculture and Fisheries to formalize the practice of connecting with nature to revitalize human’s spiritual, mental and physical health. Chiba University professor, Yoshifumi Miyazaki has led formal research that shows strong evidence of the benefits of this practice. He states, “we are over-stimulated and stressed by today’s man-made world, and that makes our bodies more susceptible to disease.” For him, “it’s not surprising that attention is turning to Shinrinyoku as an example of a natural and low-cost way to alleviate this problem.” Shinrinyoku, translates to mean “taking in the forest atmosphere” or “forest immersion”.

Singing Pines is an ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy) certified forest bathing guide service, which takes inspiration from Shinrinyoku.

Forest bathing is not about hiking, exercising, or meditating in the forest, but rather about being present and aware of the natural environment allowing its positive effects on the body, mind and spirit. In each session, we relax the mind and open the senses to connect with the More Than Human World. Understanding our reciprocity with all beings aligns with ancient traditions of right relationship and how our actions are interconnected.

From a scientific view, this practice has been proven to have many benefits for physical and mental health, such as:

• Lowering stress levels, blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, which are associated with cardiovascular health and mood.
• Boosting immune system function by increasing the number and activity of natural killer (NK) cells, which help fight infections and tumors.
• Improving cognitive abilities, such as attention, memory, and creativity, by reducing mental fatigue and enhancing mood.
• Reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol, by improving metabolic and inflammatory markers.

The human connection to our environment and exposure to natural elements can restore our own natural balance. Some of the mechanisms that scientifically explain how forest bathing works are:

• Phytoncides: These are volatile organic compounds emitted by plants and trees that have antimicrobial and antifungal properties. They can also stimulate the production of NK cells and reduce stress hormones.
• Negative ions: These are electrically charged particles that are abundant in natural settings, especially near waterfalls, rivers, and oceans. They can improve mood, reduce depression and anxiety, and enhance oxygen absorption.
• Biophilia: This is the hypothesis that humans have an evolutionary tendency to seek connection with nature and other living beings. It suggests that contact with nature can promote psychological well-being, social bonding, and environmental awareness .

Forest bathing can be practiced by anyone who has access to a natural area. It does not require any special equipment or skills, only a willingness to slow down and appreciate the moment.  This practice is a simple and effective way to help you relax, recharge, and reconnect with yourself and our environment.

What is geophonic nature therapy?

Nature and forest therapy engages all our senses. With each of these five senses, we practice subtle listening through the body. During your experience with Singing Pines, you will tune into the vibrations that are present in all things on Earth. We will listen to Earth’s (geo) music (phonic).

What is a soundwalk?

“A soundwalk is any excursion whose main purpose is listening to the environment. It is exposing our ears to every sound around us no matter where we are. We may be at home, we may be walking across a downtown street, through a park, along the beach; we may be sitting in a doctor’s office, in a hotel lobby, in a bank; we may be shopping in a supermarket, a department store, or a Chinese grocery store; we may be standing at the airport, the train station, the bus-stop. Wherever we go we will give our ears priority. They have been neglected by us for a long time and, as a result, we have done little to develop an acoustic environment of good quality.” – Hildegard Westerkamp (published in Sound Heritage, 1974)

Focused, silent walks can be a key to reducing stress levels, anxiety, distractions, and can improve breath control. Our sense of hearing is heightened, and awareness of our connection to nature is enhanced. Concentrating on the sound environment links us to the risk of noise pollution and solutions to create an ecologically balanced soundscape. Taking the time to listen to our surroundings gives us a deeper understanding of how our everyday actions affect both nature and our well-being.

Anyone can participate in a soundwalk. On our walks, we do ask that talking and distraction (cellphone use) be kept to a minimum to allow for the enjoyment of the environmental sounds. Therefore, small children may not be engaged enough in this activity to avoid becoming restless.

Each soundwalk is designed to move through different sound environments. We will be walking at a slow pace to allow for time to fully hear each location. Over the duration of one hour, a distance of approximately ½ mile will be traveled.

Our Guides

Eve Payor (aka Lady Eve) is a musician, artist, dendrophile, and the owner of Singing Pines. Eve grew up in Atlanta and spent summers in Appalachia basking in the aroma of the forest and playing in mountain streams. She is a certified forest bathing guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, and enjoys sharing her passion for soundscape and sensory learning. As an active Zazen practitioner, she incorporates meditation and subtle awareness throughout her endeavors. Her artistic advocacy focuses on the connection between music, environment, accessibility and wellness. In 2016 she began to lead an ongoing series of soundwalks, which gives the public opportunities to experience natural surroundings through listening techniques, meditative breathing, and contemplative focus. In recent years, the soundwalk program has grown into an artist residency called the ACA Soundscape Field Station at Canaveral National Seashore, and an accessibility program for blind and partially sighted youth called Young Sound Seekers, sponsored by the National Park Service. These programs highlight the growing importance of environmental sound (soundscape) on the quality of health for all living creatures. As a musician and soundscape artist, she uses field recordings, electronic music, spoken word, and classical oboe in her compositions and collaborations. She has performed at the Mutek Mexico Festival, 800 East Atlanta Art Collective, been a curator at Vancouver’s alternative performance festival: Signal & Noise, and produced her Pan Ambient event series with Seattle’s Decibel Festival. In 2016, she produced an interactive gallery exhibition called Watercolors in Sound at Atlantic Center for the Arts showcasing a sound/video/photography installation of field recordings from the New Smyrna Beach soundwalks. Eve has been a featured artist-in-residence at Hambidge Center in North Georgia, Serenbe AIR in Chattahoochee Hills Georgia, and a featured artist at Timucua Arts Foundation Orlando, and the Atlanta Science Festival.