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Why Everyone Should Try Forest Bathing
Vogue Magazine
The tree is cooler to the touch than I was expecting. I bring my nose to the bark and inhale deeply, squeezing my eyes tight to focus my attention. The scent is toasty, familiar. I place my hands on the rough surface and, much to my surprise, find myself murmuring “hello.” Elsewhere in the park, others are inspecting leaves closely; some are sitting quietly beneath trees, and one woman is smiling wide, staring up at the birds slicing across the sky. A bell chimes and we say our goodbyes, coming together to form an informal circle. A hushed, contented sort of wonder is upon us.
‘Forest Bathing’ Is Great for Your Health. Here’s How to Do It
TIME Magazine
We all know how good being in nature can make us feel. We have known it for centuries. The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air — these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us. But what exactly is this feeling that is so hard to put into words? I am a scientist, not a poet. And I have been investigating the science behind that feeling for many years.
Can Forest Therapy Enhance Health and Well-being?
Harvard Health Publishing
Inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” forest therapy is a guided outdoor healing practice. Unlike a hike or guided nature walk aimed at identifying trees or birds, forest therapy relies on trained guides, who set a deliberately slow pace and invite people to experience the pleasures of nature through all of their senses. It encourages people to be present in the body, enjoying the sensation of being alive and deriving profound benefits from the relationship between ourselves and the rest of the natural world.
Forest Bathing: What It Is and Why You Should Try It
Kaiser Permanente
There’s a reason why the largest cities in the world have parks, trees, and pockets of nature mixed in throughout their busy streets. One study by the International Journal of Environmental Health Research found that spending time in an urban park can have a positive impact on a person’s sense of well-being. Aside from city parks, the more in-depth practice of forest bathing has been found to lower blood pressure, heart rate, and levels of harmful hormones — like cortisol, which your body produces when it’s stressed.2 This can help put you in a more calm and relaxed state.
Pay Attention: How "Forest Bathing" Clears the Mind and Body
CBS This Morning
There is mounting evidence that spending time in nature is good for your body and your brain. That led us to explore a popular activity prescribed by Japanese physicians for years known as "forest bathing."
Humans have evolved in nature and it has been scientifically proven that our brains behave differently when in nature.
Healing Forest | Shinrin-Yoku | Japanese Forest Bathing
Nitin Das
