After Module 1
Submit your required work and meet Milena for your first summative learning review.
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SHINRIN-YOKU GUIDE TRAINING TMT®
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PATHWAY 1: SELF-PACED
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START ANYTIME
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COMPLETE WITHIN ONE YEAR
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USD $599
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The Mindful Tourist TMT® · Pathway 01 · Self-paced online
Shinrin-Yoku Guide Training
Pathway 1 · Self-Paced
Become a Shinrin-Yoku, Forest Bathing & Forest Therapy Guide through independent online study, mindful nature practice and personalised consultations at key milestones. Begin whenever you are ready, wherever you live.
Beyond a collection of forest activities
Learn independently. Grow through a relationship with nature.
Pathway 1 is for people who prefer to organise their own study time while still receiving guidance at meaningful milestones. There are no mandatory weekly live cohort meetings.
Your course brings together the history and science of Shinrin-Yoku, Japanese cultural perspectives, nature connectedness, ethical reflection, sensory invitations, and professional session planning. The work develops through independent reading, experiential practice and structured assignments.
You learn to guide with care for participants, for yourself and for the living forest. Milestone consultations with the founder support your development as you move from theory to real-world sessions.
Independent online study, lived experience in nature and professional reflection.
Pathway 01 · Self-paced online
Your time. Your place. A thoughtful structure.
There is no fixed intake date and no weekly live teaching schedule. Follow the 15-week learning sequence at a pace that works for you, then complete the practical and certification requirements within 12 months of enrolment.
Forest learning begins wherever you are.At a glance
A complete professional training, without a fixed cohort calendar.
Begin at any time. Study through the online platform, work with weekly invitations and personal nature practice, and complete your coursework independently. When a module is complete, you have a personal review with the founder before progressing.
USD $599One-time fee · Instalment options available on the enrolment page
View course and enrol
Personal guidance · At the milestones that matter
Self-paced does not mean doing everything alone.
After Module 2
Review your understanding, developing guiding style and readiness for practice.
Before guided practice
Discuss your preparation and required documents before beginning the practical module.
Final check-out
When all practice sessions and documentation are complete, undertake the final review.
A mid-practice mentoring session is also listed in the course platform. Appointments are arranged individually; they are not weekly group lessons.
A thoughtful rhythm · one week at a time
A self-directed rhythm, one week at a time.
The curriculum is presented in 15 learning weeks, but you are free to move through the materials in your own time. Learning, reflection and experience outdoors belong together.
During Weeks 1–10 you work with weekly readings, videos, invitations, solo nature practice and reflective questions. Weeks 11–15 introduce practice planning and the first four guided sessions. The remaining six sessions are completed at your own pace before the final certification deadline.
Reflection without performance: your personal Reflection Journal is a place for sincere observation. Required module submissions and practical documentation are identified separately in the course.
01
Read & understand
Begin with the weekly requirements, research-informed readings, video presentations and cultural or scientific context.
02
Receive an invitation
Explore a weekly Shinrin-Yoku invitation. Notice not only what you do, but how different invitations change the quality of attention.
03
Go into nature
Undertake regular solo forest or nature practice. Your own relationship with the living environment is part of your education.
04
Reflect & record
Use the week’s reflective prompts in your personal journal. You are not expected to answer every question or arrive at a “correct” answer.
05
Prepare to guide
Complete relevant practice-preparation tasks: observe sites, consider the group, design invitations and learn to document decisions.
06
Integrate & review
Submit the required assignments and module work, raise questions through the available course channels and bring your learning to personal consultations.
Personal check-ins, not weekly calls: arrange founder review consultations after Modules 1 and 2, a pre-practice conversation, and a final check-out when your work is complete. The platform also lists a mid-practice mentoring session.
Pathway 1 · The complete 15-week curriculum
From foundations to lived practice.
Explore the three modules of your independent online course. Open any week to see the principal learning topics. The course platform provides the related reading, videos, invitations, activities and submissions.
Module 01 · Weeks 1–5
森林浴
Shinrin-Yoku
The foundations: history, science, ethical conduct, forest environments and nature connectedness.
Week 01From Phytoncide Therapy to Forest Therapy
- Historical perspectives on phytoncide therapy and the evolution of the field.
- Scientific and cultural roots of Shinrin-Yoku.
- Preparing for solo practice, invitations and reflection.
Week 02SYA Code of Conduct & Applied Ethics
- Shinrin-Yoku Association professional principles.
- Adapting sessions for different target groups.
- Ethical scenarios, role boundaries and responsible decisions.
Week 03Shinrin-Yoku in Japan
- The Japanese cultural and historical context of Shinrin-Yoku.
- Links between local practice, cultural understanding and guiding.
- Practice preparation and weekly reflection.
Week 04Phytoncides & Forest Environments
- Discovery and understanding of phytoncides.
- Evaluation of forest therapy environments.
- Seasonal and geographical variation in forest volatile compounds.
Week 05Five Pathways to Nature Connectedness
- Urban Shinrin-Yoku and forest bathing.
- The Five Pathways to Nature Connectedness.
- Vertical and horizontal nature connection.
After Module 1: submit the required work and arrange your personal summary conversation with Milena.
Module 02 · Weeks 6–10
心
Kokoro
The Art of You
Understanding the inner qualities of guiding: wellbeing, sensory awareness, values, empathy and compassion.
Week 06Wellbeing of the Guide, Participants & Forest
- Shinrin-Yoku as a nature-based intervention.
- Motivations and expectations of guides and participants.
- Hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing within a wider circle of influence.
Week 07Sensory Activation & Invitations
- The senses as a foundation for designing invitations.
- Degrees of Freedom of Invitations TMT®.
- Practice in flexible, participant-centred facilitation.
Week 08Personal Values & Values Towards Nature
- Values in the human relationship with nature.
- Why personal values matter to professional guiding.
- Reflection on how values shape session decisions.
Week 09Gratitude, Empathy & Compassion
- Research perspectives on gratitude.
- Empathy and compassion in the guide–participant relationship.
- Ethical and responsive approaches to facilitation.
Week 10Designing Your Shinrin-Yoku Session
- Integrating knowledge into an adaptable session design.
- Documentation and forms required for practice sessions.
- Assignments, session preparation and reflective evaluation.
After Module 2: submit your work and arrange the second personal summary consultation before the practical phase.
Module 03 · Weeks 11–15 + practice completion
森の中
Mori no Naka
The Art of Your Practice
Moving from preparation to professional practice, documentation, feedback and final assessment.
Week 11Practice Orientation & Session Design
- Practice requirements, registration forms and session protocols.
- Session elements and degrees of freedom in invitations.
- Preparation for facilitating and documenting real sessions.
Week 12Practice Session 1
Plan, conduct and reflect on your first guide-led practice session, with documentation and an invitation.
Week 13Practice Session 2
Build on initial experience, participant feedback, safety planning and self-evaluation.
Week 14Practice Session 3
Further develop facilitation, pacing, presence, group or individual responsiveness and reflective learning.
Week 15Practice Session 4
Complete the fourth scheduled practice, evaluate your progress and plan the remaining sessions.
After Week 15Practices 5–10 & Final Evaluation
Complete the remaining practice sessions, required documentation and the final assessment. Certification follows successful fulfillment of the applicable requirements.
The practical component requires 10 sessions in total, not only the first four scheduled in Weeks 12–15.
This week-by-week outline follows the current Pathway 1 lesson listing. The platform also includes orientation, solo-practice guidance, additional resources and certification instructions.
What your training includes
Everything you need to learn at your own pace.
Pathway 1 combines flexible digital coursework with independent forest practice, practical resources and personal reviews at defined stages of training.
You do not need to attend a weekly online class or travel to Japan. The training takes place wherever you live, with founder consultations arranged individually and practical sessions organised in your own community.
12 months on the learning platform
Study with videos, presentations, downloadable materials, weekly invitations and practice exercises.
International guide community
Connect with Shinrin-Yoku practitioners in Poland and around the world.
Learning community & discussion
Access the discussion opportunities and community resources described in your Pathway 1 course. Weekly live classes are not part of this option.
Practical facilitation toolkit
15 invitations, sample session protocols, reflection cards and examples of essential session documents.
Real-world guiding practice
Independently organise and guide five individual and five group practice sessions; record, reflect and submit the required documentation.
Certificates in English & Japanese
Receive your training certification documents upon successfully meeting the requirements.
SYA professional standards
Certification assessed against the Shinrin Yoku Association educational and ethical framework.
SYA graduate membership
Membership information for successful graduates is described in the current training offer; please check the enrolment conditions for your intake.
Milestone consultations with Milena
Personal review after Modules 1 and 2, a pre-practice conversation and final check-out rather than weekly mentoring meetings.
Final check-out
Complete a final evaluation and check-out conversation after all required documentation and practice are submitted.
From learning to certification
Practice is not an optional extra.
The final certificate represents demonstrated learning and responsible guiding practice—not simply attendance or watching recorded lessons.
What you will work toward
- Required weekly study, reflections and ongoing solo Shinrin-Yoku practice.
- 15 Shinrin-Yoku invitations, 3 full session protocols and 5 forest meditations, as specified in the course.
- 10 independently facilitated practice sessions of at least two hours each.
- Appropriate session planning, registration, informed consent, risk assessment and documentation.
- SYA self-evaluation forms and reflection after practice sessions.
- Final evaluation and commitment to the Shinrin-Yoku Association Code of Conduct / SYA Pledge.
Review the current enrollment agreement and in-course requirements for the exact submissions and deadlines applicable to your intake.
Hands-on facilitation
At least 20 hours in actual guide-led sessions.
Experience in both one-to-one and group facilitation is essential. These sessions help you develop confidence, assess your decisions and refine your own way of guiding.
5individual sessions
5group sessions
Each session lasts a minimum of two hours. The course structure schedules the first four practice sessions in Weeks 12–15; the remaining six follow according to your plan and applicable deadlines.
Your practice · your responsibility
Ten experiences in which you become the guide
Your qualification is earned not only through study but through real sessions with real people. Every session is an opportunity to practise sensitivity, ethical decision-making, careful planning and the ability to respond to what unfolds.
You will facilitate five individual sessions with one participant and five group sessions with more than one participant, each lasting at least two hours. The first four guided practices are scheduled in Weeks 12–15; the remaining six can be completed as you become ready, within the overall 12-month certification period.
Complete within 12 months of enrolment. The deadline applies to the full certification process, including session documentation and final evaluation. Extensions may be available for important circumstances at an additional fee.
The complete certification journey
What you are required to complete
Work through the 15-week core curriculum, its readings, invitations, preparation activities and required module submissions. Maintain a personal Reflection Journal.
Develop professional session protocols and invitations using the TMT® Scaffolded Model of Engagement and Degrees of Freedom. The course resources include three full protocols, 15 invitations and five forest meditations.
Participate in the module review meetings, pre-practice consultation and final check-out included in Pathway 1. Incorporate feedback into subsequent decisions.
Conduct 5 individual and 5 group sessions, each a minimum of two hours, while respecting the SYA Code of Conduct and limits of the guide's role.
Before each session, complete a fresh site risk assessment and a session planning form, with registration, consent and other required participant documents.
Submit required practice records, reflect through SYA Assessment Markers, facilitate any agreed participant-feedback process, and complete final evaluation.
Before and after every guided session
Three essential practice documents
Physical Risk Assessment
Assess weather, terrain, trees, wildlife, insects, air quality, accessibility, permissions, group needs, emergency communications, exit routes and your final go/no-go decision. Repeat it even when using the same location.
View the risk assessment form ↗Session Planning Form
Record participants, date, theme, timing, route, map, accessible alternatives, stops, invitations, Degrees of Freedom, hazards, emergency exits and adjustments. It is your session blueprint.
View the planning form ↗SYA Assessment Markers
Evaluate your guiding choices, participant inclusion, sequence, pacing, safety and responsiveness. This is for your professional self-reflection and instructor feedback; it is not a handout for participants.
View the assessment markers ↗Participant consent and privacy matter. Explain your trainee status, agree on terms, collect the appropriate registration and informed-consent documents, and ask permission before sharing a participant’s contact details with your instructor for feedback. Do not dispense medication or work outside your professional competence.
Finding people to practise with
Your first participants may be closer than you think
Start within your trusted network, then consider local community groups, wellness studios, environmental organisations, appropriate volunteer settings, local events and partnerships. You can also use social media and word of mouth. Whatever the setting, choose people and places thoughtfully, explain the training context, and protect participants' privacy.
The Reflection Journal
A place to notice how you are changing
Your journal accompanies you throughout the training. It can be a notebook, a dedicated paper journal or a digital document—whatever allows you to return to your observations with honesty and curiosity.
Each week includes reflective questions. These are invitations rather than an examination. You do not need to answer every prompt; notice which questions are meaningful to you, what changes through solo practice and what you still wonder about.
At the end of each module, a required reflection and the specified documents are submitted for review. The journal itself remains a personal record of your developing relationship with the forest and your emerging approach as a guide.
Practical preparation
What you will need
You do not need specialist outdoor equipment to begin, but you do need the space and commitment to study, observe and practise consistently.
Reliable internet
Computer or tablet
Quiet study time
Access to nature
Notebook or digital journal
Regular time and dedication
The Mindful Tourist's educational approach
The TMT® Scaffolded Model of Engagement
A structure for designing experiences without prescribing what participants must feel, discover or take away.
Through the model, guides learn to arrange session elements, develop purposeful invitations, offer meaningful degrees of freedom and adapt to participants and place. It supports deliberate planning while preserving personal agency and space for unanticipated experience.
Guides also attend to ethical boundaries, physical and emotional safety, ecological responsibility and post-session reflection. A guided Shinrin-Yoku session supports wellbeing and nature connectedness; it does not itself confer authority to diagnose or treat medical or psychological conditions.
Co-creationCo-responsibilityCo-beingParticipant agency
“A competent guide does not need to control the forest or the participant's experience. They learn to create conditions in which meaningful encounters may emerge.”
The Mindful Tourist · Our educational philosophy
Questions about Pathway 1?
A few helpful answers before you begin.
Self-paced learning is a different rhythm. These are the questions we hear most often; for complete guidance, visit our dedicated FAQ page.
Are there weekly live meetings?
No. Pathway 1 is designed for independent study. You arrange individual consultations at key learning and certification milestones.
Can I start at any time?
Yes. There is no fixed cohort start date. The curriculum is organised into 15 weeks, and you have up to 12 months from enrolment to complete all certification requirements.
Do I need to travel to Japan?
No. You study online and organise practical sessions in a suitable natural environment where you live. The five-day Japan immersion belongs to Pathway 3, not this course.
More questions?
Read about certification, terms and fees, safety, self-guided forest practice and the language of Shinrin-Yoku, forest bathing and forest therapy.
Other learning formats
Would you prefer a different way of learning?
Pathway 1 remains fully self-paced. If you would rather have regular live support or learn with a group in Japan, you can explore the other training pages.
Pathway 02 · Mentor-assisted online
Learn with weekly mentoring.
Structured online study with live meetings and guided support through the practical module.
Explore Pathway 2 ↗
Pathway 03 · Online + Japan
Experience Shinrin-Yoku in Japan.
Ten weeks of online learning followed by five days of guided immersion in the forests of Nara.
Explore Pathway 3 ↗Pathway 1 · Enrol whenever you are ready
Begin your journey as a Shinrin-Yoku Guide.
Start at any time, study independently and work toward your SYA certification through thoughtful nature practice, professional assessments and personal milestone reviews. Tuition: USD $599 (one-time payment option).