The forest brings us a sense of peace like no other. Imagine: Walking through the forest. You hear the birds chirping and the leaves blowing in the wind. You can feel the breeze on your skin and see the sun’s rays breaking through the trees. Immediately, we might feel a sense of calm wash over us.
Natural, undeniably, has a profound impact on our mental state and well-being. In Japan, the concept of “forest bathing” has been studied in great length and found to offer various mental health benefits. So, what is forest bathing? Should you try it?
What is Forest Bathing?
Rooted in the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, forest bathing involves simply taking in the forest (or any nature that might be nearby your home and easy to access!). You might sit in the forest and observe what you smell, see, touch, hear, and feel. Or you might walk through the forest, giving way to even more benefits!
Generally, during this time, you want to foster an appreciation for Mother Nature and simply be. It can help to leave your phone at home or in your bag. It’s also a good idea to avoid wearing headphones so you can fully take in the wonder of nature. Aim for about 120 minutes in nature per week for optimal benefits. In many ways, this is a “mindfulness” practice where we can learn to live in the moment without worries about the past or future.
The Benefits of Forest Bathing
Here are a few ways forest bathing can benefit your health and your life!
1. Reduced Stress
Out of all the benefits, this is probably the one that has been most extensively studied. Research has shown the practice of forest bathing to have significant positive effects on mental health, including depression and anxiety. In fact, many experts indicate that the stress hormone cortisol actually decreases with this practice.
2. Better Heart Health
Inevitably, reduced stress can have beneficial impacts on our hearts and bodies as a whole. Studies suggest that forest bathing can help reduce blood pressure and improve cardiovascular function. When adding walking to this practice, your heart and respiratory system receive even further benefits!
My personal favourite places to go to soak up nature are Hampstead Heath or Highgate Wood. If neither of these is nearby, simply aim to get out of London for the day or get outside in a nearby park.
3. Decreased Inflammation
This is likely a byproduct of reduced stress and better heart health. However, forest bathing is thought to help lower markers of inflammation, potentially reducing one’s risk of a heart attack, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and more.
4. Improved Immunity
Forest bathing further has the power to improve our immune function. According to one scientific study, forest bathing increased the production of specific immune cells, which may help prevent illness. In fact, this same study indicated that these higher levels of immune cells combined with lower adrenaline lasted for 30 days after forest bathing. Thus, this Japanese practice might just help us get sick fewer times a year!
Adding forest bathing, hiking, or walks in nature inevitably has positive impacts on our health and wellness, so why not give it a try? And if you’re interested in learning more ways to improve your health and life, book your FREE discovery call with your local Finsbury Park chiropractor. BOOK NOW.