Forest bathing – The Japanese bath with no water in sight

Shinrin-yoku or ‘forest bath’ was developed by the Japanese in the 1980’s as a response to the increase in stress related diseases in cities. Researchers discovered that spending time in nature, specifically heavily treed areas, significantly reduced and regulated cortisol production, our stress related hormone. We know that trees provide oxygen by absorbing carbon dioxide, so imagine what happens to our brains and bodies when we are surrounded by an oxygen rich forest. Forest bathing has been linked to improved respiration, reduced anxiety and depression and lowered cardiovascular disease markers. Forest bathing is also about connecting or reconnecting to your environment, taking a pause on our busy and often stressful lives.

Here are some ways to get your tree bath experience:

Find a local park that has areas of dense trees, ideally away from any major roadways. Make time - doing this even once every few weeks will help to significantly reduce your cortisol levels and improve your respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous system.
Leave your technology behind. I know we are the plugged in generation and susceptible to the FOMO of instagramming our life but for this activity you need to unplug and disconnect to reconnect .
The idea of forest bathing is to walk slowly, meander, look up, look closer, pay attention, touch a tree, run your hands through the long grass, really listen, breathe deeply, recite a mantra or affirmation, let go, close your eyes and use your senses to connect with your surrounding. Whatever it is that helps you connect- do that.
Ground yourself- find a quiet spot to sit, remove your shoes and place your feet into the grass. Ground yourself in nature. Lie down and close your eyes and listen to the sounds of life going on around you. This is the time to look inwards.
Focus on your breath- try some yoga breathing. Breathe in through your nose counting to four, hold for four and then exhale for four. Try a few repetitions of this, you should feel quiet and calm. Hold on to that feeling and take it with you when you return.