News and Events on Forest Medicine, Forest Therapy and Shinrin Yoku

Learning to Relax: Understanding Forest Bathing Through the 3-2-1 Exercise

Why can it be so difficult to switch off—even in the forest? In her article for The Female Explorer, Alena Grubinka explores this question with psychologist and forest therapist Sabine Oberg, a faculty member at the IM-WALD-SEIN® Academy. The feature explains what sets forest bathing apart from an ordinary walk and why genuine relaxation takes more than a change of scenery. It looks at mental load, engaging the senses and finding a way back from a constant stream of thoughts to the present moment. Sabine Oberg’s 3-2-1 exercise offers an easy way to begin and encourages readers to experience the forest more slowly and attentively. Published June 30, 2026.

International Perspectives on Forest Medicine and Clinical Forest Therapy

Dr. Melanie H. Adamek, Director of the IM-WALD-SEIN® Institute for Forest Medicine and Forest Therapy, will deliver a keynote at the International Conference on Forest Therapy 2027 in Vancouver. The international conference series is organized by the Multidisciplinary Institute of Nature Therapy (MINT) at the University of British Columbia. It brings together researchers, health care professionals, educators and practitioners to explore the scientific foundations, practical applications and international development of forest therapy. Initiated by UBC’s Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship, MINT works with nearly 50 universities, research institutions and practitioners worldwide. A key objective is to connect research into the physical and psychological effects of forest therapy with practical applications for a range of professional and patient groups. We are delighted to contribute the IWSI’s European experience in forest medicine and clinical forest therapy to this international exchange.

Forests and Nature as Health Resources: Evidence-Based and Practical

Between January and June 2026, five specialist articles by IWSI Director and expert in forest medicine and forest therapy Dr. Melanie H. Adamek were published in CO.med and Der Heilpraktiker. The articles explore how experiences in forests and nature can support health and meaningfully complement prevention and therapeutic care. Topics include resilience and nature connection, green and blue spaces as health-promoting environments, forest therapy in longevity medicine, tactile experiences in nature and the role of forests in children’s health. Each article combines scientific findings with practical applications and highlights the opportunities that forests and nature can offer at different stages of life.

The KWTWS: A Flagship Project for Clinical Forest Therapy

On May 20, 2026, Germany’s first Clinical Forest Therapy Trail for orthopedics and multimodal pain therapy was officially opened at Sana Kliniken Sommerfeld. Managing Director Matthias Kloß, Chief Physician Dr. Volker Liefring and IWSI Director Dr. Melanie H. Adamek formally opened the trail for regular use following its successful certification. The KWTWS establishes clinical forest therapy as a structured therapeutic component within the treatment program at Sana Kliniken Sommerfeld, based on the quality standards of the IM-WALD-SEIN® Institute and developed in cooperation with the International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine (INFOM). The ceremony brought together clinic management, chief physicians, therapists, the interdisciplinary forest therapy team, patients and visitors. Joint professional site visits and in-depth discussions showed how forest medicine and modern clinical care can meaningfully complement one another.

Experience Forest Medicine and Shinrin Yoku at Their Source

As the German chapter of the International Society of Nature and Forest Medicine (INFOM), we are pleased to announce the 6th INFOM International Seminar & Workshop, taking place in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, from October 23 to 25, 2026.

The three-day English-language event combines current research in forest medicine with practical insights into Shinrin Yoku and Japanese forest therapy. The two-day scientific seminar focuses on the effects of forest exposure on psychoneuroendocrinoimmunological regulation, the role of Shinrin Yoku in mental and physical health and current international research. It is complemented by application-oriented presentations on medically supervised forest therapy. On the third day, participants take part in a guided forest therapy program at Gongenmori Nature Park.

Upon successful completion, physicians may apply for the INFOM certificate as an International Forest Medicine Specialist. Participants from other professional backgrounds may apply for certification as an INFOM-certified International Shinrin-Yoku Instructor. The certificates are signed by INFOM President Dr. Michiko Imai and INFOM Co-President and Secretary General Prof. Dr. Qing Li.

Places are limited to 50 participants. The participation fee is 240,000 Japanese yen—currently around 1,300 euros—and includes accommodation, meals, transfers during the event, the seminar and forest therapy workshop, annual INFOM membership and the relevant certification fee. Registration closes on September 22, 2026. An optional multi-day Shinrin Yoku experience will also be offered in Chiba Prefecture from October 25 to 28, 2026. Further information is available on the official INFOM website.

Seven Participants Begin Training as Clinical Forest Therapists

On April 24, 2026, the IM-WALD-SEIN® Academy launched its intensive course “Clinical Forest Therapy for Lifestyle-Related Diseases.” Seven participants from medical, therapeutic and psychosocial fields are now preparing to integrate forest therapy into their professional practice in a safe, evidence-based and patient-centered way.

Led by Dr. Melanie H. Adamek and Sabine Oberg, the participants develop the scientific knowledge and practical skills needed for quality-assured forest medicine and forest therapy. The hybrid program combines four online training days and guided self-study with a two-day practical phase at Sana Kliniken Sommerfeld. There, participants apply what they have learned to realistic clinical situations and prepare step by step for graduation as IWSA-certified Clinical Forest Therapists specialized in lifestyle-related diseases.

Discover Shinrin Yoku and Experience It First-Hand

On April 18, 2026, the IM-WALD-SEIN® Academy and Klinik Wartenberg invited professionals from therapy, medicine, nursing, education, counseling and health promotion to an introductory course on the clinic’s forest therapy grounds. The day offered participants an opportunity to experience Shinrin Yoku as taught by Prof. Dr. Qing Li and to learn more about its scientific foundations.

Led by Dr. Melanie H. Adamek and Sabine Oberg, the course combined guided experiences in nature, professional exchange and ideas for applying the approach in participants’ own work. The combination of clearly presented knowledge, first-hand forest experiences and open discussion was particularly well received. Many participants took away practical ideas for their professional practice.

Germany’s First Clinical Forest Therapy Trail for Orthopedics and Multimodal Pain Therapy

Implementation of the Clinical Forest Therapy Trail for orthopedics and multimodal pain therapy has begun at Sana Kliniken Sommerfeld. It is intended to become the first clinical forest therapy trail of its kind in Germany. During an initial site visit, teams from the clinic and the IM-WALD-SEIN® Academy coordinated the route, suitable stations and therapeutic requirements.

The aim of this pioneering project is to integrate clinical forest therapy permanently into everyday health care as a structured treatment component. Alongside the forest therapy trail, indication-based programs, standardized procedures and practical training for interdisciplinary teams in rehabilitation and acute care are being developed.

Two Inspiring Days of In-Depth Professional Exchange

On October 24 and 25, 2025, the first Wartenberg Forest Therapy Congress brought together experts from medicine, research and practice in the forest park of Klinik Wartenberg.

Dr. Melanie H. Adamek, Director of the IM-WALD-SEIN® Institute, and Dr. Qing Li, member of the IM-WALD-SEIN® Academy and one of the world’s leading researchers in forest medicine, gave a joint presentation. Under the theme “From a Feeling to Science,” they explored the development of forest therapy and its potential within modern, person-centered and nature-based health care. HHighlights included contributions from more than 20 experts, a shared focus on the forest as a source of health, exclusive insights into ongoing studies, practical forest therapy sessions in the clinic’s spacious forest park, interdisciplinary exchange among peers and plenty of personal inspiration.

The congress offered two inspiring days with nature, science, professional exchange and new perspectives on the future of forest-based health interventions.