Turns out getting back to nature isn’t just a mood booster; it can actually help you improve your health. Enter forest bathing, the hot new way to commune with Mother Earth.
Anyone who has ever pulled out of a fussy nosedive by going for a walk in the woods already knows that time spent in nature is good for your mood. In fact, research shows that you can even moderate mood disorders with plenty of time outdoors.
If that sounds simple enough, well, it is. Recently, though, health advocates have taken a more prescriptive approach: forest bathing.
What Is Forest Bathing?
The term “forest bathing” is a literal translation of the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, with shinrin meaning “forest” and yoku meaning “bath.”
Simply put, forest bathing is what it sounds like: Immersing oneself in and surrounding oneself with the “bath” that is nature. In other words, shutting out the distractions of the busy modern world by entering a space that is entirely natural, typically one with lots and lots of trees.
Writing for TIME, Dr. Qing Li cautions that forest bathing is more than a fitness regimen.
“This is not exercise, or hiking, or jogging,” he says. “It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Shinrin-yoku is like a bridge. By opening our senses, it bridges the gap between us and the natural world.”
Of course, should you choose to take a more exercise-oriented approach, that can’t hurt. It’s just not the main goal, as a forest bathing guide will tell you.
So next time you feel blue, plan that woodsy hike or camping trip you’ve been dreaming of!
How Can You Get More Nature in Your Life?
While it might not be quite as immersive as an unspoiled woodland scene, urban green spaces can also be great for the mood. In fact, you can create those green spaces and help steward the Earth right in your own backyard with green roofing and urban gardening.
Would you like to learn more? Get in touch with Ecogardens today!
