THE APPROPRIATELY NAMED JAMES FORREST GOES FOR A WALK IN THE WOODS TO FIND OUT HOW ‘FOREST BATHING’ CAN IMPROVE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

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.