Forest-bathing simply means immersing ourselves in a "wilderness" setting. The act of spending time in the forest or in a state park surrounded by lush greenery.
It is a natural way to relax, absorb the pure tranquility of nature, and be healed from mental and physical exhaustion brought by uncertainties and the brunt of modern life.
A great escape to momentary silence away from the noisy urban lifestyle. A relaxing sanctuary that helps us reconnect with nature and find peace.
Forest-bathing is known in Japanese as Shinrin-yoku, and it is now gaining popularity as a pathway to achieving a healthy well-being.
Shinrin-yoku
It is a study in Japan conducted in the 1980s about the connection of nature and humans and how spending time in the forest and lush greenery helps improve the overall wellness of a person, finding way through emotional healing.
Shinrin-yoku or forest-bathing has been proven to be effective in regaining vitality, energy, and emotional and mental balance.
Here's how to forest-bathe
In Japan, there are dedicated Shinrin-yoku forests to undergo this nature reconnection. And these forests are planted with conifer trees, however, other trees or lush greenery are beneficial also, as long as you are in a nature-soaked environment.
In fact, forest-bathing does not mean rigorous mountain hiking ritual or trekking on a stepped nature trail, but just slowing down in a green environment.
Forest therapy means relaxing under the shade of nature and become fully immersed in the surroundings, breathing on the fresh tang of greenery.
- Walking in the woods
- Taking a leisure stroll around the nature trail and botanical gardens
- Breathing in the wilderness
- Resting beneath the trees
- Gathering forest edible
- Smelling the scent of fresh grass or flowers
Even hopping into your bike and taking a slow race through the wooded trail and scenic environment can be considered a forest-bathing.
Where to forest-bathe?
Actually, it's not necessarily that you go to the wilderness to do a Shinrin-yoku, any natural scenery or areas teemed with greens and blooms will do.
Even standing beneath a huge tree, closing eyes and inhaling deeply will benefit the body. If you are living in the city and do not have an access to the forest, then a state park will do.
Reconnecting with nature
We all know how good nature can make us feel.
The sounds of the forest. The crisp breeze rolling from the hinterlands. The gentle whistling of the leaves. The therapeutic scent of the fresh grass. The chirping of the birds.
It gives us a sense of serenity and comfort.
Benefits of forest-bathing
There's a scientific evidence on the benefits of forest-bathing according to a Japanese study on Shinrin-yoku.
Apart from the fresh air, breathing in the wilderness and taking a walk in the woods or in a state park surrounded with lush greenery or even in a botanical garden, offer psychological and physical cleansing and help boost immune system.
It's because natural scenery and areas soaked in jungle-like atmosphere are free from toxin and damaging air pollution. And it has negative energy and ions that damage oxygen supply in the body.
So forest-bathing helps us find our sense of balance, cleanse our body system, restore vitality, recharge sagging energy and . rehabilitate our mental sense.
Forest-bathing also tend to reduce hormone production and improve feeling of happiness. So, it is an overall detoxifying and de-stressing tool, both in physical, mental and emotional aspects.
Are you ready to forest-bathe?
Try this healing tool comes weekend to de-stress and escape the negative energy in the city. Discover the simple joy of reconnecting with nature and your personal being.
And find out the positive changes that may occur in your mental sense after embarking into this relaxing outdoor adventure.
Have a great weekend!
Photo credit:
Leo Wu and Dilraba Dilmurat (both in their Weibo accounts)
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