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| Image by Jose Antonio Alba from Pixabay |
As we drift away from nature we begin to loss the health benefits of just the time spent in nature – the physical and emotional benefits.
Forest bathing actually involves doing nothing but sitting still and taking in the smile, sight and sound of nature.
This makes forest bathing a perfect activity for seniors and the young as well.
What is shinrin – yoku?
Shinrin – yoku is a Japanese practice which translates loosely as forest bathing.
Forest bathing is not a swim in the forest and no nudity is required but it is about spending time in nature and engaging with nature through our senses.
It is a time to be very mindful and it is a time when you get to deepen your intimate relationship with nature.
Why did shinrin – yoku develop in Japan?
Shinrin – yoku was introduced by the Japanese government in the 1980s to help reduce the stress of the Japanese working class.
Across Japan, there are about 62 forest therapies and Forest bathing is just a therapy that helps us reconnect again with nature.
The forest occupies a large percentage of the inhabited land.
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| Source: Statista |
12 Amazing Health Benefits of Forest Bathing
Forest bathing has been proven to have many health benefits some of which are;
- Boost the immune system by increasing our Natural killer cells (NK cells)
- Reduce blood pressure
- Reduce stress hormones
- Reduce the blood sugar levels
- Remedy for brain fatigue
- Relief depression
- Facilitates Mindfulness
- Improve the quality of sleep
- Increase the anti casual proteins
- Increases your positive feelings
- Increases Serum Adiponectin level which is a fat fighter
- Improve your memory
#1. Forest bathing can boost the immune system by increasing our Natural killer cells (NK cells)
NK cells are your cancer and tumor fighting cells.
Dr Qing Li an associate professor at the Nippon school did a research study where he took participants into the forest with the purpose of trying to show how engaging with the forest helps our immune system.
After 3 days, he discovered that there was a dramatically increase of the natural killer cells of the participant by 56% and it stayed so for a month.
Trees emit an organic chemical called phytoncides to protect themselves against germs and insects.
People with higher NK activities show lower incidence rate of cancer in both male and female.
As we bath in the forest atmosphere we come in contact with this organic chemical that intent gives us this amazing result.
#2. Forest bathing can reduce blood pressure
Studies have found that people have higher blood pressure by aging.
Dr. Qing Li of the Nippon medical school in his research noticed that an engagement with the forest lowers our heart and blood pressure.
#3. Forest bathing can reduce stress hormones
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| Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay |
Stress is a global epidemic but to some levels stress can be a good thing because it can get you motivated, but experiencing high levels of stress for long periods will harm your body.
Multiple studies have shown that forest bathing helps relief stress by just going for a forest walk for just 15 minutes reduces stress hormones (cortisol) by 12%.
That sounds awesome for very little work done right!
For example....
Adrenaline is a stress hormone and research shows that a forest visit decreases urinary adrenaline.
#4. Forest bathing can reduce the blood sugar levels
From Dr. Qing Li research, he concluded that a forest therapy produce the same effect as the medication you take to reduce your blood sugar level, the only difference is with forest therapy you bare no cost.
#5. Forest bathing is a remedy for brain fatigue
While going for a hike or other fun activities are lots of fun, you are not going to get the benefits forest bathing gives.
When you walk into a forest, the smell you get is the beginning of the healing process.
Trees emit oil as protection from germs and bugs. When you come in to contact with the forest you come into contact with the smell of this oil call phytoncides.
#6. Forest bathing can relief depression
According to the world health organization, 350+ million people suffer from depression.
Our life is full of ups and downs and because moments like this exist, we will feel depress and loss, we will have to pick our self up when we are down.
First you need to understand your brain because there is a part in you that still feels at home with nature.
Research have shown that our brain behave differently when we are in nature.
And so being connected with nature result to some stunning changes with our brain with begins to calm the nerves as a result helps fight depression.
#7. Forest Bathing Facilitates Mindfulness
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| Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay |
Mindfulness gives you the time to reconnect with yourself in many other ways by just walking in the woods and it is quite refreshing.
Mindfulness is a type of meditation that engages all your sense. The forest is also a perfect environment to be mindful. Being mindful is great for your well-being.
Going on a forest bath create such an atmosphere where you really can reconnect with yourself. .
Research shows that children brought up with close contact to nature have better mental health than adults.
#8. Forest bathing can improve the quality of sleep
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| Image by 溢 徐 from Pixabay |
We leave in a world of desires and as we long to get such desires we deprive our minds, body and our brain is starve from a deserve rest.
Nature plays a part here. When you reconnect with nature, you kind of reset your brain and you also find calmness and company and this intent improve the quality of sleep you get.
#9. Forest bathing can increase the anti casual proteins
Dr. Qing Li of the Nippon medical school, who is one of the first persons to conduct research on forest bathing, concluded in his research that the essential oil trees produce to protect themselves from parasite and insects can increase the anti casual proteins within our killer cells.
#10. Taking a forest bath increases your positive feelings
Multiple research Studies have shown that regular contact with nature really does improve our well-being because it clears your minds, increases vigor and relaxes you.
#11. Forest bathing increases serum adiponectin level which is a fat fighter
Adiponectin is a hormone produced by adipose tissue.
Lower adiponectin is associated with several metabolic disorders, including obesity, cardiovascular health and type 2 diabetes.
Studies have shown that a forest therapy increases serum adiponectin levels which help to burn fat.
#12. Forest bathing can improve your memory
Forest bathing helps you energize, focus and you get clarity of thoughts.
Here is an amazing video that further explains the benefits of taking a forest bath
Can you practice forest bathing in a city?
Yes you can visit a city park to enjoy a forest bath.
In fact Dr Qing Li says in his research that spending just 2 hours in a city park has will have lots of health benefits like for example a forest bath can increase your positive feelings and reduce your negative feelings.
If you have a small park near your work place or near your home you should Endeavor to pay a visit during your launch breaks.
The bigger the park the bigger the effect you get.
You can also enjoy an indoor forest bath by putting a flower or plant in your home and you can also produce some aroma by using some essential oilmen.
Do you need a guide to take a forest bath?
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| Image screen shoot from the association of nature and forest therapy |
The reason you need a guide is because a guide is train to invite you into very simple sensory connection activities which will be a feeling you haven’t had before.
Another reason is just to slow yourself down so you don’t rush with your bath and also so you don’t go too far especially if you are not familiar with the present woods.
My personal take on shinrin - yoku is that it is accessible to a wide variety of people regardless of your body shape and size. It is also easy to integrate into psycho – therapeutic work.
To find out more or become a certified therapy guide visit the Nature and Forest therapy Organization.
How to take a forest bath
Whenever you decide to go for a forest bath, remember this few useful tips
- Inhale and exhale deeply.
- Do some physical exercise like walking slowly around the forest.
- Relax – lay down and meditate like you are relaxing your mind.
- Torch the woods – go close and touch trees and to some extend embrace the tree like you are having a conversation.
Where to forest bath?
In countries like Japan forest trails are certified after passing a forest bathing test on their physiological effects.
But if you leave in Africa, where the trend of forest bathing hasn't yet taking steam and couple with the fact that certified forest bathing guides aren't easy to find, you can for now forest bath in a quiet national park that's not full of kids and not located in a busy urban area.
Final thoughts on Forest Bathing
Forest bathing isn't about curing illness but about taking necessary measures to fight them.
As technology advances, our dependency on it will be unquestionable so when going for a forest bath, you should switch off a bit from such concerns.
You don’t want a scenario where instead of engaging with nature you end up engaging with your phone checking your feeds.
Half of the time when we go engaging with nature, we end up taking pictures with our phones to share our experiences.
We need to take a break from all that because a pure form of forest bathing actually requires that we engage with all our senses.
What was your experience when you first took your first forest bath? Please share with us on the comments.
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