“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.“
John muir
In the 1980s, the Japanese began to run scientific studies on the healing benefits of spending time in the forest. Not surprisingly they have discovered incredible benefits linked to a slow (sometimes meandering)
I often think of this in a very literal sense while hiking … the trees are washing away the grime and grit of the city and leaving me renewed. I’ll even say “Brian, we are taking a forest bath!”. And he responds with a confused look. The proponents of forest bathing are adamant that it’s not a hike, but I think with the right mindset you can have a focused walk in the woods in a meditative way and call it forest bathing.
Here are some of the known benefits of spending time in the forest according to Shinrin-Yoku.org.
- reduced blood pressure and stress
- improved focus and sleep
- increased energy
- boosted immune system
When we make this a part of our regular practice the benefits are pretty incredible and I can confirm that my regular walks in Prospect Park in Brooklyn are a key to my renewed sense of well-being.
- clearer intuition
increased flow of energy and life force- greater capacity to communicate with nature
- deepening of friendships
- an overall sense of happiness
My walks are often meditative and are at least an hour long. Leave the phone at home, focus on breathing, notice the birds and the scents of the forest. It takes me about twenty minutes to slow the pace and to feel the immersion. Our walks in the Catskills tend to be much longer (at least two hours) and you can feel the impact later that evening whilst sitting by the fire.
want to learn more? here is a great article
