Forest Bathing and the Benefits of Nature
Summertime is in full swing and with that comes more time spent outdoors (hopefully) for all of us! You’ve probably all heard it. Nature is healing. But how? Enter Forest bathing. Today we will explore the benefits of getting outside and how we can maintain our mental health and resilience by utilizing nature! For more on mental resilience, see last months blog HERE.
What is forest bathing?
Forest bathing. Part exercise, part meditation. And not it is not taking an actual bath in the forest. Forest bathing emerged from Japan in the 1980’s as a way to combat corporate burnout and to inspire citizens to reconnect with and protect their nation’s forests.
Forest bathing is not just avid outdoorsmen or backcountry hikers. It can be practiced in any natural environment, for those in the city this might be a city park or nature trail. It’s all about connecting with the nature that is around us.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF NATURE
It is no secret that nature holds immense healing properties and there is science to support this. A 2019 study looking at 20,000 people, showed that those who spent 2 hours per week outside in green spaces were more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those who did not. Other studies have shown that just 10-20 minutes per day leads to improved feelings of happiness and well-being and decreased stress.
There are thousands of other studies looking at the health benefits of nature and it seems to be the direct antidote to the chronic stress of the world today. Time in nature has shown to: lower blood pressure, decrease stress hormone levels and nervous system arousal, improve immune system function, increase self-esteem and mood and reduce anxiety. Sounds like if nature was a pill, it would be the best selling drug on the market!
The Japanese have been onto this for decades. Coining time in nature as “forest bathing” which is immersing oneself and the senses in nature and soaking in the sights, scents and sounds of nature. They believe that part of the benefits of being in nature is physically interacting with nature. For example, they suspect that inhaling certain aerosols from plants and trees increases levels of Natural Killer cells which are crucial in the immune response.
So, get outside! Turn off your phone, take some deep breaths and take in the sights, sounds and scents around you and you just might feel better, physically and mentally.
At Wild Rice Wellness, we truly believe in the power of nature and the power of movement. Mindfulness and exercise are pillars of any treatment plan and while we have the warm summer months, we encourage patients to get out for some forest bathing. If you are looking to learn more about our practice, click HERE!
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