Connecting with nature during a forest bathing session is not conventional exercise; it’s slower and more meditative
The forest is the therapist, not me,” says Liz Dawes, gesturing across a fi eld towards a patch of idyllic woodland. “As your guide, I am simply here to open the door to the forest.”
I’m in Yorkshire to take part in a guided session of shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of ‘forest bathing’. For many years, the Japanese have understood that mindful time in the woods is benefi cial to both the body and soul - and now the art form is growing in popularity in the UK and across the world, with the Duchess of Cambridge a confi rmed fan. I’ll admit, though, to feeling a little cynical: am I about to head into the woods with a bunch of tree-hugging hippies? But I’m also excited about the prospect: how will quiet, meditative time in the forest aff ect me?
During a forest therapy walk, you’re encouraged to move slowly and notice evrything around you
NATURE NURTURES
In Japanese, ‘shinrin’ means forest and ‘yoku’ means bath, but don’t get the wrong end of the stick (or twig), because it has nothing to do with water. No swimming costume or bubble bath needed here. Shinrin-yoku simply refers to immersing yourself fully in the forest, for the purpose of enhancing your health, wellness and happiness - or, if you prefer, bathing in the atmosphere of the forest. It’s not conventional exercise; instead it’s something slower and gentler, akin perhaps to a meditative walk. Put another way, shinrin-yoku is about simply being in nature and connecting with it through your senses.
Th e mental and physical benefi ts of this approach are plentiful. Practising shinrin-yoku will clear your head, help you to relax and de-stress, and empower you to put life’s little problems into perspective. It is therapeutic and healing. Your anxieties will fl oat away; your mood will be restored, boosting your energy and vitality; and you will feel rejuvenated, with renewed resilience to face life in a positive way. But why? Th e answer is simple. Humans are meant to be connected to the natural world. For millennia we’ve had an intimate relationship with nature and derived freedom, happiness and wellbeing from that closeness. But in modern times, a city-centric and internet-obsessed existence have left us more and more detached from the natural world. Shinrinyoku allows us to unplug from technology, switch off our laptops and phones, and instead reconnect with nature. For some, it feels like coming home, as if tapping into an intrinsic, innate desire to be outside in the countryside.
First coined in Japan in the 1980s, shinrin-yoku was built on a scientifi c and medical foundation, as well as a desire to provide an eco solution to the burnout of tech-centric, city living. Although the Japanese had been walking meditatively in the country’s forests for centuries, it was new research in the 80s that really proved what was already known: that spending time in the forest is good for our health. Studies showed that time bathing in nature could improve concentration, lower blood pressure, aid sleep, and tackle depression and anxiety, while phytoncides - a chemical released by trees - are proven to boost the immune system. Th is wealth of scientifi c evidence convinced the Japanese government to incorporate shinrin-yoku into its national health programmes - and now other countries are following suit. In the UK, forest bathing is being considered as something prescribed to boost mental health.