Have you heard of Forest Bathing? Shinrin-yoku means “taking in the forest through our senses,” according to Dr. Qing Li, Chairman of the Japanese Society for Forest Medicine. He goes on to say that, “Forest Bathing is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our sense of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Indoors, we tend to use only two senses, our eyes, and our ears. Outside is where we can smell the flowers, taste the fresh air, look at the changing colors of the trees, hear the birds singing, and feel the breeze on our skin. When we open up our senses, we begin to connect to the natural world.”
There is also something he mentions called the “Biophilia hypothesis”. This is the belief that humans have a biological need to connect with nature. The word biophilia comes from the Greek meaning “love of life and the living world”. American biologist E.O. Wilson made this concept popular because he believed that since we evolved in nature, we have a biological need to connect with nature and that our love of nature has helped us to survive. It is in our DNA to love the natural world. This attraction to the natural world is actually essential to our health. Being in nature is as important to our overall wellbeing as regular exercise and a healthy diet.
Wilson also said, “Our existence depends on this propensity, our spirit is woven from it, hope rises on its currents. We are ‘hard-wired’ to affiliate with the natural world- and just as our health improves when we are in it, so our health suffers when we are separated from it.”
As urban populations grow worldwide, we are also increasingly an “indoor species.” Along with our new sedentary ways, are a whole new list of issues arising from over-consuming media on devices, causing “technostress.” With stress being called the health epidemic of the 21stcentury by the World Health Organization, the more important it is to find ways to naturally alleviate stress. The best news is that being in nature can instantly de-stress and help bring the whole body into a state of relaxation!
There is much scientific data that proves that spending time in nature helps depression, pain, anxiety, can boost the immune system, reduces blood pressure, improves cardiovascular function, lowers blood-sugar levels, improves memory and concentration, gives you energy and helps with weight loss! I have so enjoyed reading Dr. Qing Li’s book, “Forest Bathing: How trees can help you find health and happiness,” (where much of this information is derived from). I highly recommend it to any tree-hugging nature-lover…If you didn’t want to go outside and walk in nature before, you certainly will now!
What Dr. Li and most of us know inherently, we are nature. We love to be outside because we are meant to be outside. The next time you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, I invite you to go outside and take a walk in nature. You will find that relaxation, peacefulness, and healing is literally just outside your front door.
