Forest Bathing

It’s the weekend before Thanksgiving 2020, and I’m feeling lots of emotions about not being able to get together with my extended family for the holiday. For me, being outside, moving my body, and connecting with loved ones help me feel better when I’m feeling anxious and stressed. Lucky for me, I live somewhat close to the Santa Cruz Mountains in California, home to some of the most incredible and majestic redwoods in the world.

So, to nourish our minds and bodies, my husband and I headed for the hills! Walking among the tall trees, brushing up against the green ferns, observing the sunlight peeking through the forest, truly inspired a sense of awe and wonder in us. We were struck by the beauty of our surroundings and felt a deep sense of calm and gratitude in the moment. It turns out, we were “forest bathing.”

What’s forest bathing you might ask? In 1982, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries created the term shinrin-yoku, which translates to “absorbing the forest atmosphere” or “forest bathing.” Forest bathing encourages people to spend time in nature and appreciate their surroundings by immersing your senses in the sights and sounds of a natural setting. The cool thing about “forest bathing” is you can do it most anywhere - at your local park, your favorite walking trail, at the beach, a lake, or any natural setting you can easily get to. 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.   

Even more impressive, forest bathing is linked to cardiovascular benefits such as lower blood pressure, heart rates, and lower levels of harmful hormones – the chemicals your body produces when you’re stressed. It can help put you in a more calm and relaxed state. Who doesn’t need some of that right now?

If you can’t be with your loved ones celebrating Thanksgiving this year, it might just be the perfect time to try this out. When you get to your destination, find a safe place to rest, silence your phones, take a few deep breaths, and let your mind and senses wander, explore, and indulge. Take in all the sights and sounds and smells - whether it’s the scent of clean ocean air, the sound of wind in the trees, or the chorus of chirping birds.

This is a unique time in our lives, where time spent relaxing and detaching is invaluable. A two-hour forest bath will help you unplug from technology and slow down. But if that seems too long, the good news is that any amount of time you can spend outdoors enjoying fresh air and sunshine is great for your health and wellbeing. If you can, practice forest bathing for at least 20 minutes every day. If you don’t have that much time to spare, that’s OK! Something is always better than nothing!

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Sue

P.S. If you want to read more about “forest bathing,” check out this Time Magazine article from 2018.