Shinrin-yoku: The art of Forest Bathing
If you have a window nearby or even a potted plant, take a moment to sit by it. What do you smell? If you open your mouth and breathe it in, is there a taste or a weight to it as the scent moves across your tongue? If you were to touch the plant or an object out your window, how does it feel as it moves across your fingertips? What sounds come to you at that moment? How does it look….really look?
If you took a little time to complete that exercise with me, how do you feel in your body? Is it different than before you started? If so, you’re not alone. There is a growing body of research that is paying closer attention to this phenomenon. This effect, of feeling better when feeling connected to the natural world (whether it be experienced through a window, a video, a painting, or a walk), is called the biophilia theory. It’s a theory that suggests we have evolution to thank for our reason to seek out nature experiences.
Part of the research being compiled is coming out of the practice of shinrin-yoku in Japan. Shinrin-yoku is literally translated as Forest Bathing. This practice came about during the Tech-boom of the 1980’s. Japanese society was experiencing a significant uptick in diseases such as: cardiovascular diseases, cancer, depression, anxiety and auto-immune disorders. The government, in response to the growing health crisis, poured money into research to find out what had changed. They found that the work day had grown longer, more sedentary, more stressful and without much variation in task or even temperature compared to that of even a generation earlier. Scientists began to look to the outdoors to see what secrets it held to a healthy society. They discovered that trees, particularly conifers, release chemicals called phytoncides into their immediate environment to ward off parasites and diseases. When we simply walk among trees, we are literally being bathed in the phytoncides that are released. In turn, the phytoncides trigger a specific immune response in humans- we produce more NK cells that are integral to fighting cancers. Being in nature, even for 30 minutes also has a significant impact in decreasing cortisol levels ( a stress hormone), heart rate, and blood pressure. Today, in Japan, Shinrin-yoku is prescribed to patients who are beginning to show signs of overwork. There are certified Forest Bathing trails and centers staffed by medical providers where you have your blood pressure and heart rate monitored before and after your walk. It is widely recognized as medicine.
By spending time outdoors, we are healing our bodies and our minds in significant ways. It’s more than just an act of self-care, it is an act of self-healing.