Forest bathing has nothing to do with a bath that includes water. Forest bathing is a mindful walk through a forest, that activates our senses and strengthens our immune system.
We know that walking in nature has got super-healing health benefits.
In Japan, forest bathing is an approved way of health care. They even grew recreational forests. The Japanese Ministry of agriculture has collected scientific proof of the benefits of forest bathing.
They include:
- Boosted immune system
- Reduced stress
- Better mood
- Increase the number of Natural Killer cells.
- Lowered blood pressure
- More energy
- Sharper focus
- Faster recovery from surgery and illness
- Improved sleep
If you spend one weekend each month or one day each week in nature, you will increase your overall health simply by being in the forest.
Forest bathing – how to
Include all your senses when you go for your forest bath. Use your intuition and be present in the moment. Take time for each sense – It doesn’t matter with which one you start.
Listen to Nature
Listen to the sounds of the forest. Are there birds singing, whistling of leaves in the trees, water running in a river, bees humming! Try and connect to nature. The biologist and writer David George Haskell wrote a book about trees – “The Songs of Trees: Stories from Nature’s Great Connectors.” His book tells us the stories of the interconnections between plants, animals, and people. His interest started with learning the song of birds before he started to tune in to the sound of trees. What do you hear?
Smell nature
What do you smell as you just walk around? Fresh grass, different tree, the scent of flowers, mud, dirt or other scents.
Feel
Feel the temperature, the surface of the elements of nature. Touch a tree, pick up a stone, dig your hands into the mud, dry it off in the grass or rinse your hands in the water or river.
Taste
Taste the eatable leaves, see if you can find wild berries or different herbs. Depending on where you live, you can taste running water in a fresh natural spring
Look
Gaze around. Look into the distance to see mountains, fog, the city or other things far away. Take a look to see the little things on the ground. How many different shades of green can you see? Did you know that of all the colors, green is the color we can see the most shades off?
Meditate
Meditation is great to do in Nature. Connect to nature, take off your shoes, hug a tree or talk to it, they are great listeners, and yes you can laugh at yourself. Happiness looks good on you.
Forest bathing is completely natural, it is free and the effects on us are amazing.
- Your intuition gets deeper
- You get happier
- Increased energy flow
- Increased connection to yourself, nature and the relationships in your life
One day a week or one weekend a month is enough to fuel you with the super-healing health benefits described. So, if you want to be happier, more intuitive, calm and focused, and have a better relationship with yourself and others. Hit the forest <3
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