The Benefits Of Forest Bathing – Shinrin Yoku
The benefits of Forest Bathing – Shinrin Yoku
How spending time in nature thoughtfully can benefit our mental and physical health.
Shinrin Yoku is a Japanese term that means "forest bathing." Continue reading to learn about five significant advantages of this exercise.
Many of the things we relied on for comfort and wellbeing were off bounds during the year of lockdown. Due to the restrictions on travel and the closure of our local cafes and studios, many individuals rediscovered their local area and spent more time outside in nature.
According to a study conducted by Natural England in May 2020, 36% of respondents claimed they would spend more time outside during the pandemic than they had previously. In July 2020, this figure had risen to 46%. Website traffic for wildlife organisations increased dramatically, and sales of plants and gardening equipment increased significantly.
Nature provided a solution for loneliness and concern for many of us, allowing us to disengage from screens or homeschooling while reconnecting with a more natural aspect of ourselves we had forgotten about.
Instead of jumping on a crowded train for the morning commute, a woodland walk or a nature-filled trip may now be substituted for an artificially-lit gym. You could say that nature provides us with therapy, which is something that proponents of Shinrin Yoku, or Forest Bathing, have been advocating for years.
What does Forest Bathing entail?
The Japanese Shinrin Yoku coined the terms "forest bathing" and "nature therapy." It was created in the 1980s in Japan as a way to assist stressed-out city inhabitants relax. The term refers to the experience of attentively taking in the forest environment during a leisurely walk, and it has become an important part of preventative healthcare in Japan and the East. It's also known as ecotherapy in Europe and the United States.
It may appear straightforward, but as more than half of the world's population now lives in crowded cities, humans are finding it increasingly difficult to interact with the natural landscape with which we have evolved. Children growing up in cities are more likely to suffer from nature deficit disorder, a term coined by author Richard Louv, best known for his book Last Child In The Woods.
Many cases of melancholy, ADHD, OCD, and anxiety, according to researchers and therapists, might be connected to a lack of nature or 'vitamin N' in our life, whereas spending time in nature has been proved to have numerous advantages for both body and mind.
A trip to the neighbouring forest is highly recommended to properly appreciate the benefits of Shinrin Yoku. If you don't have access to a park, you can still connect with nature by walking outside onto your garden or balcony. If you don't have much outdoor space, bring nature inside with house plants and decorate with greens and browns to feel like you're in the woods.
Read on to learn about five of the most significant benefits of forest bathing and how to connect with them.
- Depression and depressive tendencies are reduced
Those who spend more time in nature appear to have a higher sense of well-being and lower depression rates. Studies demonstrate that spending a day in nature can improve one's mood and mental health, significantly reducing the indications and symptoms of despair and anxiety. Perhaps it's the natural light or the chance to calm down, but if a day in the woods can produce such significant consequences, it's definitely worth trying as a natural mood and mind therapy.
Put it to the test.
Choose a safe spot to stroll without distractions like your phone or other electronics to begin your Forest Bathing practise. Because our phones' social media platforms may frequently be a source of concern, you could leave your phone at home or set it to'silent' mode if it's safe to do so. Allow this to be the start of a spiritual practise that involves only you and the forest. Forget about snapping photos or sharing your experience on social media.
- Virus Prevention and Immune System Benefits
Every time we breathe while going through the woods, we absorb highly helpful phytoncides. Phytoncides are naturally occurring substances that are generated by trees and plants and have the benefit of protecting both the plant and humans against illness.
Take a deep breath in and stand in the centre of a forest. The phytoncides you inhale have antibacterial and antifungal properties, and they cause a rise in the activation of NK cells, sometimes known as "natural killer" cells. These cells kill cancerous and virus-infected cells in the body, and their effects might last long after the initial excursion to the forest has ended. Studies show increased NK cell activity for over thirty days after a three-day forest trip, and researchers are currently exploring whether exposure to forests can indeed help prevent certain types of cancer. The good news is that you don’t have to spend weeks in the woods to experience the prolonged immune benefits from phytoncides, as a day trip to a forest park can actually increase NK cell activity for more than seven days after.
Put it to the test.
Focus on your sense of smell as you begin walking through the forest; what scents do you notice? Is it true that certain trees have stronger fragrances than others? Is there a particular odour that you recognise?
- Increased joy, awe, and spiritual connection
We rarely encounter a sense of wonder in our daily lives, yet it is one that can have life-affirming advantages and is usually only genuinely experienced in nature. Awe is a fascinating emotion associated with positivity and amazement, and it is said to be one of the emotions that might help us feel more spiritually connected to a 'higher force.'Call it ‘god’, ‘the universe’, or ‘the divine’, nature seems to expand our awareness and sense of belonging in the world, which in turn can inspire an enhanced sense of wellbeing, generosity and connection to humanity. Studies with older adults showed that a weekly 15 minute ‘awe walk’ led to increased positive emotion and prosocial emotions such as compassion and gratitude.
Put it to the test.
The next phase in your Forest Bathing routine is to take a break once you've found a suitable location in the woods. Allow yourself to simply gaze in wonder for a few moments as you look up at the canopy of branches and leaves above you. Looking upwards through the trees, for example, can have a significant perspective-shifting effect.
- Increased Originality
Walking in general appears to promote creativity significantly, and walking in nature tends to magnify the advantages even further. Walking improves creativity by 60%, according to Stanford University studies, and legendary creatives such as Virgina Woolf, Beethoven, and Pablo Picasso are known to have liked long walks in nature. According to psychologists and psychology professors Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, using the sense of sight in the forest can generate an effect known as'soft fascination,' which can help our busy and frequently frazzled minds recover by bringing them to a state of peace, introspection, and restoration.
When we're stressed, our eyesight takes on a tunnel-vision-like quality, but soaking in the natural and gently shifting surroundings of leaves and branches, animals, and rays of sunlight can help our nerve systems reset, allowing us to be more creative and proactive rather than reactive.
Put it to the test.
Find a comfortable spot to sit and practise the 'What's moving?' question. Technique of Forest Bathing Simply look around the forest floor and observe what is moving and what is static. Is there a lovely breeze playingfully dancing the plants and flowers? Are there any birds who come to their nests? Do the hefty oak tree trunks exude a sense of power and stillness?
- A New Perspective on Nature
One of the most straightforward impacts of spending time in nature is a renewed respect for its beauty and strength. Humans may have gone a long way from having such an intimate relationship with nature as we had a few thousand years ago, but we may still establish a meaningful relationship with the plants and trees around us.
Put it to the test.
Take a time to thank the forest for having you as you reach the finish of your Forest Bathing walk. Continue your practise by picking a specific tree to visit each week, or a site to return to each season to see the colours change.