What is Forest Bathing and Why You Should Do It

Aleksandr Staprans
Aug 9, 2017 · 3 min read
source: www.42adventures.co.nz

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller

Are you looking for a way to decrease stress, get your daily dose of meditation, and hang with mates? Read on to learn more about forest bathing.

Growing up we were told to take baths, but at a certain age you switch to showers and never look back. There is a new kind of bath on the block and it’s called ‘forest bathing.’

Forest bathing is simply being in the presence of trees. It is experiencing nature with all five senses. A popular quote among practitioners is ‘don’t effort.’ So why should you go out and experience it?

In 1982 Japan implemented the practice of forest bathing into the National Health Program. It was a solution to Karōshi or literally translated ‘Overwork death’. They had a crisis on their hands. Men who should have been in their prime were dying due to the extreme stress of the work environment. Since then, forest bathing has taken off in forests and parks around the world.

Research validates the positive effect forest bathing and some even claim it is the new yoga.

Medical Benefits

In a study conducted by the Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences in Japan’s Chiba University measured the physiological effects on 280 subjects in their early 20s. What they found was that the practice lowered blood pressure, reduced cortisol (our flight or flight stress hormone), and boosted the immune system. Additionally, a study of 498 healthy individuals conducted by the University of Kyoto determined that forest bathing reduces hostility and depression and increases liveliness.

Basically going out for a walk and disconnecting for a couple of hours makes you a healthier, happier, you.

Mindfulness

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul” – John Muir

The core idea behind forest bathing is disconnection. It is not about the destination or gaining new knowledge but about experiencing the now. It is about experiencing things that can only be seen or heard while moving slowly through nature.

This mirrors common meditation practices in which you are supposed to empty the mind. The key difference is that in a forest bath you are focusing on each sensation rather than simply observing your thoughts.

Social

While San Francisco is an ocean away it is the birthplace of many health and wellness trends. Julia Plevin has started a 500 person meetup group that gathers once a month to forest bath together. Another practitioner uses forest walks to help people literally drop their problems. At the beginning of their meet up he asks each person to write a problem on a rock with chalk and drop it at the trailhead. He tells them, “You can pick up your troubles again when you leave.” Nobody picks their rock back up. It is an experience that you can get as much out of with a group of people as by yourself.

So you might be wondering how you can implement a forest bath into your life. If you live in a city a good place to start is a local park. If you live near a trail, get your shoes on. When you’re out under the trees remember the golden rule, “don’t effort.”

Now get out there and go take a bath :)


If you want more stories like this head over to www.42adventures.co.nz

Aleksandr Staprans

Written by

42 Adventures

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