De-stress, ground yourself, get lost in your senses and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature through the practice of forest bathing.

The Little River Wetlands Project is putting on a Forest Bathing event, guided by Christy Knecht, on Friday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The event is free and will be located at the Eagle Marsh Wetland Preserve in southwest Fort Wayne.

Forest bathing is a meditative and mindful practice dating back to 1980s Japan where it was first instituted by the Japanese government to counteract deaths by overwork and the high stress levels that were endemic to the culture.

The practice is a combination of sitting, slow walking, stillness, thought-provoking prompts and tapping into all of one’s senses — all while outdoors.

“I think it’s the best of all worlds when it comes to mindfulness or meditation just because there is movement — slow, deliberate, intentional movement,” said Christy Knecht, who will guide this event, “but there’s also this stillness that is a really important piece (of the experience)…once we get our minds slowed down, (we) can just sit.”

Though one may assume that forest bathing can only be done in a forest, that is far from the truth. Any landscape in nature can be a successful host, even simply watching a birdhouse outside of your bedroom window. The wetlands at Eagle Marsh prove to be no exception.

“It’s so alive on a different plane than a forest is. A forest feels alive way above you all the way down to your feet. But the wetland is often at your own level, like its right here in front of you or beneath you, and then there’s water, so it takes you even deeper,” said Knecht. “It does create a different kind of experience overall, just because landscape really matters.”

Knecht said that participants should bring a water bottle, dress for the weather and turn their cell phones on silent. The event will take place no matter what the weather is, except in the case of strong winds or thunderstorms.

Attendees can expect to make introductions and begin by being led through a 20-minute nature-based meditation, followed by a 20-minute slow walk around the wetlands. After that, Knecht will spend around an hour leading the group through exploratory “invitations,” or thought- and sense-provoking prompts, before releasing people to spend time in the wetlands individually to sit, close their eyes and be still in their senses.

The practice will wrap up as a group with some native tea and the sharing of any experiences that came about.

Though Knecht has led groups of all ages through forest bathing, she recommends that this be a 14-and-older event. Modifications can be made throughout for any age or accessibility needs.

Forest Bathing presented by the Little River Wetlands Project: Free, 6:30 pm Friday, Eagle Marsh, 6801 Engle Road, 260.478.2515, lrwp.org