Step into
the TREES

Let the forest meet you exactly as you are.

Guided Forest Therapy Walks with Alissa Culbreth

serving ashevillE & CashIERS, NC

The Experience

Forest Therapy, also known as Shinrin Yoku (Japanese for “forest bathing”), is an invitation to slow down and step gently back into the natural world.

It’s an opportunity to breathe a little easier, notice the small quiet things we often miss, and let the forest meet you exactly as you are no expectations, no goals, just presence.

During our time together, I’ll offer simple, gentle invitations that you’re welcome to explore in your own way. These invitations help open the senses and create space for a deeper connection with the land, but there is never a “right” way to participate. You choose your pace, your level of engagement, and how the experience unfolds for you.

森林浴

the benefits

Nervous System Reset

Gentle time in the forest helps calm the stress response, supporting the body’s natural shift into rest, regulation, and restoration.

Improved Focus & Clarity

Nature immersion gives the mind a break from constant stimulation, allowing attention to soften, reset, and return with greater clarity and creativity.

Emotional Grounding

Moving slowly through natural landscapes can support emotional balance, helping people feel more present, steady, and connected to themselves.

Sense of Belonging

Spending time with trees, water, and living landscapes often awakens a feeling of connection to the land, to life, and to something larger than ourselves.

Your GUIDE

walking beside you

I'm Alissa, a kind-hearted soul who discovered healing in the beauty of nature.

My own journey through the forest led me to train with The Association of Nature and Forest Therapy to become a certified Forest Therapy Guide.

Nature has always been the true healer. I'm simply here to open the door and hold space for whatever you discover along the way.

If you feel called to step into the trees, I'd be honored to walk beside you.

Presence, not performance.

There is no agenda, no goal, no right way to arrive. The forest receives you exactly as you are — and so do I.

Nature: the true healer.

I'm simply here to open the door and hold space for whatever you discover along the way.

Forest Therapy is not...

...a workout or a strenuous hike, a class about plants, wildlife, or wilderness skills, nor a counseling session or clinical therapy.

The Walk

Guided Forest Therapy walks are currently offered in Cashiers, North Carolina on a private forest trail.

To keep the experience peaceful and protect the land, the exact location is shared once your walk is booked. The trail follows a beautiful forested stream and offers a quiet, calming setting to slow down and arrive.

Walk rates

Every walk is 2 to 3 hours of unhurried time in the forest.

$75

Individual

Private Walk

A more personal and quiet journey at your own pace. Space to move slowly, breathe deeply, and follow whatever calls your attention.

$40

Per person (2-6 participants)

Group Walk

A shared experience of connection and reflection. The forest holds space for all of you, each on your own quiet journey together.

Ready for a walk?

To book your Forest Therapy walk or ask a question, simply email me at mithrilmaven@gmail.com or complete the walk inquiry form. I’ll be in touch soon with everything you need to know.

What is Forest Bathing?

Forest bathing, known as Shinrin-yoku in Japan, is a mindful practice of immersing oneself in the atmosphere of the forest. It is not about hiking or exercising but about slowing down, awakening the senses, and forming a deep connection with the natural world around you. As described by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT), forest bathing invites you to walk through the forest with no agenda other than to simply be... listening, observing, breathing, and allowing the forest to engage with you.

Nature. Presence. Sensory

Maven’s Forge creates quiet, intentional spaces where the forest leads, attention deepens, and reconnection unfolds naturally.

The path to restoration extends from our heart to the heart of sentient beings,and that path will be different for every person.

Paul Hawken

Nature is not just a backdrop to our lives, it is an active participant in our story, whispering truths, offering solace, and grounding us in the present.

In its quiet wisdom, the forest reminds us to slow down, to breathe deeply, and to see ourselves as part of something infinitely larger and profoundly interconnected.

Maven's Forge

Chronicles

The Science + Benefits of Forest Bathing

Forest bathing isn’t just a relaxing activity, it’s also backed by science, proving that time spent in nature can dramatically improve our physical and mental health. Research from around the world shows that spending time in natural environments can lower stress, reduce anxiety, improve mood, and enhance immune function. These benefits are not just anecdotal; they are supported by a growing body of research that suggests that the forest itself has a healing power. The Scienc

Why consider Forest Therapy guided walks?

Because slowing down is not something most of us remember how to do alone. Forest Therapy guided walks are intentionally slow, sensory-based experiences . A guide helps create a container where there is no pressure to perform, hike, achieve, or “do it right.” You’re supported in moving at the pace of your nervous system... not your calendar. Because nature does the work, the guide helps you notice. Forest Therapy is not about being taught or fixed. Nature is the healer. A tra

What are phytoncides?

Phytoncides are volatile organic compounds that plants, especially trees, release into the air. Think of them as a tree’s natural language of protection and communication. They help trees: Defend against insects, bacteria, and fungi Communicate stress or health to nearby plants Shape the microbial world around them For us, they’re part of why forest air feels so calming and restorative. Do all trees emit phytoncides? Almost all trees emit some volatile compounds, but: Conifer

If the smallest beings of this forest were gathering nearby, what kind of place might they choose?

#foresttherapyguide

During our walks, participants may receive a tiny woodland scroll to carry into the forest. Inside is a gentle invitation… a question or whisper meant to awaken the senses and deepen the experience of presence. Like all good journeys, what you discover there is entirely your own. 🍃

#foresttherapyguide #forestbathing #hobbits #cashiersnc

I had such a lovely morning with Michaela visiting Bear Creek Park for an upcoming Forest Therapy walk. The trail was absolutely beautiful… quiet, welcoming, and perfectly suited for Shinrin-Yoku.

I came home feeling inspired and immediately began crafting tiny scrolls for our gathering on National Forest Day, March 21st, when I’ll be welcoming a group of participants into this special place among the trees. I can’t wait to share the forest with them. 🏔️🌲🍃🫶🏼

I’ve found a truly magical trail here in Cashiers, NC. It’s on private property, so its exact location will remain tucked away for now, but it rests on land cared for by my husband’s family.

The very first time I wandered here, many years ago, I felt something special in the air. And with each passing season, this trail has woven itself more deeply into my heart and our family’s story. I’m deeply grateful to be able to invite others to slow down, listen, and practice forest therapy along this beloved path.

With deep gratitude to Rusty and Marlene Culbreth for their commitment to preserving this land by placing it in a conservation easement.

And to Collins and Jared Zimmer, thank you for generously giving me permission to use this land for my Shinrin-Yoku practice.

This March, I’ll be opening the circle and welcoming kindred spirits to slow down and share tea in the forest together.

#foresttherapyguide #natureandforesttherapyguide #foresttherapy #forestbathing #natureandforesttherapy

When we lose someone special, it can feel like we lose a small part of ourselves, and the pain runs deep. Grief is a natural part of life, and today we came together in nature to honor someone very special. We love you and miss you Rusty. ❤️

Forest Therapy guided walks are designed to minimize mental effort and sensory overload. This allows the brain’s executive functions to rest, making space for renewed focus, insight, and creative flow to emerge naturally.

#natureandforesttherapy #forestbathing

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