Healing in the Forest
Throughout the lockdowns we have experienced over the past few years, when many of us felt trapped inside, nature came to the rescue. Whether we went to hang out in a park or at the beach, or even just walked around our neighborhoods - character became a solace that helped us relieve some of the anxiety and stress that came with experiencing a global pandemic. It should be of no surprise that the Global Wellness Institute released a report predicting that society would continue to rely on nature for healing well beyond 2022. According to the report titled The Global Wellness Economy: Looking Beyond COVID, it is predicted that the estimated US $5-trillion wellness industry is heading towards an environmental direction where varying forms of ecotherapy will boom in popularity. One of these holistic ecotherapy disciplines growing in popularity is called Forest Bathing, or Forest Therapy.
The modern practice of forest therapy originated in the early 1980s in Japan when the practice of Shinrin Yoku (translated = forest bathing) became part of the nation's health program. The program encouraged fostering a deeper connection with nature to manage stress. Today, Japan has over 40 dedicated forest therapy trails and commonly views forest bathing as preventive medicine. The appeal of the concept lies within its simplicity. Individuals are invited to enter the woods and breathe deeply while tuning into their senses. Guided sessions typically range from $30 to $ 60 for 2-3 hour walks.
In Japan, researchers have discovered that forest bathing helps lower blood pressure, reduces stress and anxiety levels, and boosts overall immunity. Some studies have also shown that spending time in flourishing, grassy natural environments reduces cortisol and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as the self-healing system.
Carolynne Crawley, a forest therapy trainer, and mentor, based in Toronto, describes the practice as all about staying in the present moment. ‘Unlike the practice of meditation, which encourages practitioners to shut the outside world out, forest bathing is about inviting all of it in.’ says Crawley, a Mi’kmaw woman who introduces a lot of Indigenous context to her walks. Before beginning a hike, Crawley warns individuals that they will move slower than they usually do to appreciate the experience truly. On a typical walk, Crawley encourages participants to involve all of their senses by observing the different greens of the trees, listening for sounds, smelling the fragrance of the forest, and touching tree trunks, among other things.
An Ancient Practice Being Revisited
To read more about what forest bathing is and how it could benefit you, go to TheGlobeAndMail.com:
“‘Forest bathing is best-described as an ancient practice we’ve come back to,’ says Ben Porchuk, co-founder of the five-year-old, non-profit Global Institute of Forest Therapy based in London, Ont. ‘Over a three-hour walk we might not cover more than 500 metres or one kilometre because it is all about slowing down and noticing, in detail, the environment you are in.’
‘One common thing I hear from many of my clients is that they feel like a child again, revelling in the sheer fun of being outside,’ adds Porchuk, a restoration ecologist (by education) who just finished helping conservation staff at two parks (Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland and MacGregor Point Provincial Park in Port Elgin, Ont.) complete self-guided forest therapy trails that will open this summer. ‘They also say they feel so much more at peace.’”
From The Secret to Well-Being Could Be A Walk In The Woods - The Globe and Mail
Photo Source: WIX
Have you ever tried Forest Bathing? If not, is it something you are interested in trying?
Written by Yellow Brick Road Token
April 22nd, 2022