Jessica Muhammad, co-founder of Eco-A’s Walk About Down Yonder  program, returns to lead health and  healing walks in the Shinrin-yoku, or “Forest Bathing,” tradition, originally begun in Japan and now popular worldwide.

Simply being in a forested natural area can actually be used as medicine. And we’re not talking about exercise — new research shows a wide range of health benefits come from slow mindful walking or even just sitting in a forested place. Benefits include reducing the stress hormone cortisol, increasing your immune system defenses, improving mental health and creativity, and even helping to fight cancer. What many have felt all along, that just being in natural places makes us happier and healthier, is now being proved by science!

Join certified Forest Therapy Guide, Jessica Muhammad, for a soul-rejuvenating session of mindful relaxing and connecting to nature in the natural areas of Proctor Creek and Grove Park.

Jessica’s life-long love of the natural world blends seamlessly her with her guided, health and healing practice, and her energy is contagious.

“Colleagues from the Nippon Medical School showed that forest bathing (either a day trip or a couple of hours daily over three days) can have a long-lasting influence on immune markers relative to city trips. Specifically, there were marked increases in the number of natural killer cells, increases in the functional activity of these antiviral cells, and increases in the amount of intracellular anticancer proteins. The changes were noted at a significant level for a full week after the trip. The improvements in immune functioning were associated with lower urinary stress hormones while in nature. None of this was observed during or after the comparison city trips.” — excerpt from Your Brain on Nature, by Eva Selhub and Alan Logan

To register (RSVP) click HERE – details and directions sent to registered participants — A donation of $15 or more helps support our programs.

Note: Grove Park and surrounding community residents will be given priority for this event.

More About Jessica Muhammad

                 Jessica Muhammad

Jessica Muhammad is a long-term community builder and advocate for children, equality and justice in the greater Atlanta area. She has family roots in both rural and urban environments, and while raising her six children, she was also involved in Atlanta community education and recreation. Jessica attended classes at Spelman College, holds a degree in Transpersonal Psychology, is a certified Forest Therapy Guide and a Master Naturalist. Jessica Muhammad co-founded and served as Co-Director of EcoAddendum’s Walk About Down Yonder program with Kathryn Kolb from 2013-2016. Today Jessica focuses on her family, especially her nine grandchildren, while still engaging in many community activities. She is a member of Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam — and she loves to travel!