I am a huge proponent of spending time with nature. Be it the beach, the mountains or the forest – particularly the forest- being outside and away from the city leaves me with a sense of clarity, connection and relaxation I can’t get any other way. In fact, I try to get out into the woods at least once a week for the sake of my physical and mental health. Sometimes it’s a rigorous hike and sometimes it’s a slow meander. Both have their benefits.
This information isn’t new. The healing powers of nature are well-known, and many health practitioners recommend disconnecting and getting back to nature as part of a healthy lifestyle. But only recently did I learn that the Japanese have a name for the act of connecting with nature in this way.
Forest Bathing Defined
Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku in Japanese means being in the forest and absorbing the sights, sounds, tastes and smells. You are literally bathing in the forest atmosphere. It has nothing to do with exercise, but rather experiencing the forest with your senses. While hiking or biking in the forest can be wonderful for your health, forest bathing takes a slower more methodical approach. You are not focusing on your body, but rather everything that’s around you.
How to Try It for Yourself
While for people like me it seems like the easiest thing in the world to wander in the woods and unplug, for others it’s not so simple. First you need to find somewhere in the woods to go, either with friends or on your own. While there are similarities to meditating, there’s no rule saying you can’t experience it with others. Then you have to be willing to leave your phone or other electronic devices behind (or at least power down). Nothing ruins a forest meditation like a ringing phone or software update notification. Then all you have to do is wander. You don’t need to have a destination in mind, just take slow stroll, or even just sit. Look at what’s around you, breathe deeply, and even close your eyes at times. Listen to all the sounds, and don’t be afraid to touch the trees and rocks. Use all your senses to absorb the atmosphere.
Benefits of Forest Bathing
When humans spend time in a natural setting, especially under the canopy of a forest, they experience rejuvenating benefits to the mind, body and soul. Regular forest bathing:
- boosts your mood
- decreases stress
- promotes well-being
- decreases anxiety
- promotes creativity
- promotes problem solving abilities
- decreases risk of heart attack
- helps lower blood pressure
- protection against obesity and diabetes
- promotes energy and better sleep
There’s more science involved in determining the benefits of forest bathing, but these are the simple, seemingly obvious benefits that I’ve personally noticed. So if you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend giving it a try.
For more information about forest bathing check out these links:
- http://www.shinrin-yoku.org/shinrin-yoku.html
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2018/07/10/forest-bathing-really-may-be-good-for-health-study-finds/#26f18a69508e
- http://time.com/5259602/japanese-forest-bathing/
Feature photo by mali maeder from Pexels
