Forest Bathing

Not long ago, I heard the term “Forest Bathing” for the first time and was immediately intrigued and then slightly disappointed about what the meaning of it could be. Initially, I thought surely this must be some fancy spa-type retreat in the woods, perhaps a natural hot spring with some other magical healing properties of a certain forest. Then my intrigue quickly turned to concern and confusion as I realized that the other potential for this term was just referring to going out in nature! Why there needed to be a “buzz word” and why this was a new concept in the western world was a bit beyond me at first. Surely everyone had already felt the healing power of being in nature and surely we didn’t need a fancy social media worthy tag line to describe it? So yes folks, I have looked it up and discovered it lies somewhere in the middle, a bit more than a simple walk in the woods, but not a specific location or fancy retreat centre. So let’s dip our toes into this forest bathing thing. 

It would appear the term forest bathing originally came from Japan where it is known as “Shinrin-yoku” or forest therapy. It is not too new fangled, being “developed” in the 1980s  - (pre social media term then after all thank goodness). It is based on the scientific benefits that being in nature has on the human body, mind and spirit. Though I believe this is surely an old, intuitive practice done instinctively by people from all cultures it wasn’t “studied” until more recently. The Japanese recognized the importance of having this time in nature, especially forests, and the role it could play as part of healing and preventative medicine; hence the term came about to allow us to label this sort of therapy. While part of me cringes at the fact that we need to call being in nature something, the other part of me is hopeful that it will bring more emphasis and respect for the healing powers that being in nature can have. Perhaps it will encourage more people to get out and try it for themselves. I realized that maybe not everyone is as lucky as I am to live in a place where nature is so accessible and abundant. 

It is very true that generally, society as a whole has got all caught up in our city style of living, our highly advanced medical interventions and the hustle and bustle that seems never ending. Technology has changed around our priorities, a lot. We are constantly looking for the fastest ways to access information (the most high-speed device or internet speed) and tools that enable us to multi-task, pulling our attention quickly in different directions. We’ve trained our brain to have short attention spans and expect instant gratification or instant input-reward cycles with our fast paced games and loading speeds. We also spend time scrolling, comparing other peoples’ “on-line lives” to our own. We sometimes forgot that there are benefits to slowing down, connecting with nature, and connecting with ourselves. So perhaps, we do need a new term and trend to get back to the woods. 

Now, for the full experience of forest bathing, we need to have a bit more awareness than just mindlessly going out in nature. We also need to disconnect with the hustle and bustle and leave the phone at home. Mindfulness is an important piece of this natural therapy. Step one, we need to get out into nature, preferably far enough to leave the sounds of traffic behind. Step two, once in the canopy of the forest and surrounded by nature, get in tune with your different senses. What does it sound like? Perhaps there are animals moving about, perhaps a rustle of leaves, perhaps nothing. What does it feel like? Is there a breeze on your face, is the ground soft or hard, can you feel the grass, moss or dirt. What do you see? What do you smell? Different smells can have different effects on our hormones. Recall that essential oils are produced from the oils of trees, flowers and other plants, so although not as highly concentrated as in the bottle, we can still pick up on some while out in nature. Our sense of smell is linked strongly with taste, so while I don’t support eating things in the woods unless you know 100% what it is you can still perhaps have a sensation of taste, or maybe it’s just having a sip of cool water from your bottle. Some add meditation into this practise for extra benefits. You can do guided forest bathing or go out on your own. Though there are benefits unique to the forest for this practice, keep in mind there are benefits to other natural landscapes as well. Maybe you connect best in the crisp mountain air, out on the water or sitting beside the ocean. The experience really is up to you. 

Hopefully you’ve already enjoyed the benefits of being in nature, but it you need more evidence that this works and won’t be a waste of your time not to worry, of course people have researched this. Many studies have found that our cortisol levels decrease when we are out in nature. You may recall that cortisol is one of our stress hormones and when we have high levels of this for long periods of time, it can lead to higher levels of inflammation, high blood pressure and a less effective immune system. Some suggest that spending at least 20 minutes a day in nature can be very effective, as we begin to see a drop in cortisol levels after about 20 minutes. I have started using this with my patients and found those who are willing to do so, do feel better. For newcomers to nature, I don’t care what they do. They could be sitting on a bench, wandering a park, or relaxing in the grass, just getting outside can be helpful. Ideally we’d do the whole “practice” I described. Get out in nature for a walk, do it mindfully and uninterrupted. You’ll reap the benefits of exercise combined with the healing powers of nature for the body, mind and soul. Sounds pretty good to me - and the price is not too shabby ether ;) I will leave you with two of my favourite forest quotes to inspire you to get out there: 

“Into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir

“Time spent amongst trees is never wasted time” - Katrina Mayer