Most of us participate in some sort of spring-cleaning ritual every year. Whether it’s decluttering the garage or cleaning out the basement, the tradition is a symbol of shedding the chaos of winter and starting anew. But what if we applied the same sentiment to our minds and bodies at the turn of the season, dusting off the cobwebs to feel refreshed and ready for spring?
Eager for our own sense of reinvigoration, my mother and I headed 90 minutes north of Minneapolis to Silvae Spiritus, a nature retreat in Finlayson offering wellness services like forest bathing, meditative sound immersion, and a wood-fired sauna, plus a cold plunge and hot tub.
Courtesy of Silvae Spiritus
As we pulled into the property’s winding driveway, we were greeted by our hosts, Silvae Spiritus co-founders Leigha Horton and Travis Norman. Two lifelong nature lovers, the husband-and-wife duo moved from St. Paul to Finlayson in 2020. Born out of their vision for a remote, wilderness-style retreat, Silvae Spiritus sits on 30 acres of forest, pastures, and trails, and offers two on-site Airbnb rentals—a two-bedroom guest house and an impressively accommodating “tiny house”—but guests can also book individual wellness services without a lodging reservation.
We were invited to spend the night in the guest house, an incredibly spacious yet cozy home-away-from-home with ample living spaces, a full kitchen, and a private balcony. In addition, the house was stocked with creature comforts like board games, a turntable, and a curated collection of records (Prince included, of course). Even indoors, the intention of connecting with nature during our stay was ever-present, as large windows lining the first floor enveloped us in the surrounding forest. Shortly after getting settled and taking in the views, it was time to get started on our wellness itinerary.
Forest Bathing
Horton met us outside for our first activity: forest bathing. Think sunbathing, but with a meditative twist. Coined in Japan in the 1980s as a direct response to a national health epidemic, the practice of forest bathing involves a slow-moving, sensory walk through the forest that is known to have measurable physiological, emotional, and cognitive benefits. “It’s a way of bringing people back into a personal relationship with nature,” Horton explained.
While anyone can engage in forest bathing by themselves, it’s helpful to have a guide, much like yoga and other meditative practices. Horton and Norman have both received their certifications from the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides & Programs, and they regularly led forest bathing walks in the Twin Cities before relocating to Finlayson.
Photo by Travis Norman
Our session began with a guided meditation, as Horton encouraged us to feel the essence of the forest with all five senses: What sounds could we hear in the distance? What movement did we notice around us? How did the icy breeze feel against our skin? As we grounded ourselves, my racing thoughts dissipated, and my heart rate lowered with every deep breath of fresh air. Horton supplemented the remainder of our walk with additional thought prompts and guided exercises, often encouraging us to explore various parts of the environment on our own before coming together to reflect as a group.
Toward the end of the session, we gathered in an open prairie for a cup of peppermint tea brewed over a small fire. Horton instructed us to pour the first cup back into the ground, a symbolic act of reciprocity with Mother Nature. I left the session feeling a heightened sense of connection to Minnesota’s peaceful, snowy landscape—a pleasant surprise for someone who isn’t the biggest fan of winter.
Sound Immersion
We had a chance to warm up indoors for our next activity: a meditative sound immersion session, led this time by Norman. After spending several years as an electronic musician, Norman became fascinated with the effects of sound on the human mind and body. Drawing on his performance background, Norman’s sessions use a mix of recorded audio and live melodic instrumentation to create a fully immersive experience—it’s an invitation to let go of distractions, tap into your own intuition, and listen to your inner voice, he explained.
Photo by Leigha Horton
Norman dimmed the lights, and the room filled with relaxing ambient music. Watching him navigate the complex setup of soundboards, steelpans, and singing bowls was fascinating—like a painter adding colors to a canvas, each additional layer brought something new and intentional to the experience. After putting on an eye mask for full immersion, my mind drifted to a meditative state between sleep and consciousness. Somehow, all of the sound created a peaceful inner silence.
Sauna and Cold Plunge
As evening rolled around, we prepared for our wood-fired sauna and cold-plunge experience. Admittedly, I was nervous; the thought of extreme heat in a small, enclosed space made me uneasy. But having read about the numerous benefits saunas provide, I knew I had to give it a go. Plus, it’s a Minnesotan rite of passage. Clad in our bathrobes, we followed Horton to an outdoor patio area nestled amid the forest. Surrounded by trees and lit by glowing string lights, the atmosphere was spa-like and serene.
Courtesy of Silvae Spiritus
Silvae Spiritus follows the Nordic tradition of thermic cycling—hot, cold, rest, rehydrate, and repeat—intended to promote relaxation and well-being through a series of physiological responses. Horton walked us through each step in detail. We would sit in the wood-fired sauna until we started to feel uncomfortable or restless, then briefly dip into the cold-plunge tub. Afterward, we would let our bodies return to their natural temperatures and rehydrate with water and an electrolyte drink mix before restarting the process.
Horton emphasized that we were in control of how long each step would last, and how many cycles we wanted to complete, which put me at ease. She reminded us that we could stay in the sauna for two minutes or 20, inviting us to listen to our bodies and step out when the hot and cold temperatures were too much to bear. And rest assured, we could reach her via walkie-talkie if we needed anything.
The sauna, custom-built by Cedar + Stone Nordic Sauna, features fresh air ventilation, large windows to enjoy the view, and a wood-fired stove surrounded by coals for an optional steam experience. While it took a few cycles to get used to, the 180-degree heat eventually became enjoyable—we were shocked to realize we had spent nearly 10 minutes inside during our last round (a huge achievement for us first-timers).
Courtesy of Silvae Spiritus
Even the cold plunge, while daunting at first, was doable, as was resting in the 15-degree air in our bathing suits. Physically, the extreme temperatures left me feeling rejuvenated, but the psychological effect was even more profound—it was a reminder that we’re equipped to handle much more discomfort than we might think.
The next morning, we left Silvae Spiritus feeling more connected to our physical and emotional selves. “I don’t think I’ve ever done that much self-care in a single day,” I said to my mom on the drive home. Thanks to our hosts’ care and expertise, each wellness modality we tried was a much-needed reminder of the value of intentionally slowing down to nurture the mind, body, and spirit—and we’re already planning our next seasonal refresh.
To learn more about Silvae Spiritus, book your stay, or explore the wellness modalities available, visit silvaespiritus.com.
