Forest bathing is the term for an activity which developed around 40 years ago in Japan where it is known as shinrin-yoku and it’s based on taking in and benefiting from the forest atmosphere and ambiance.
It involves walking quietly, calmly, and mindfully in a forest and trying to connect with the natural surroundings.
By breathing slowly and deeply, while observing the beauty of the surrounding nature, the idea is that it boosts mental wellbeing by helping people relax and de-stress, and physical wellbeing by encouraging gentle exercise and fresh air.
Studies have shown that there really is a connection between well-being and nature as even just a little time spent outside can lower people’s levels of stress hormones. Besides this, it’s thought that getting outside may help people to focus and concentrate more, and even boost their attention span.
From a physical point of view, studies have also shown that time outdoors can even help lower heart rates and blood pressure levels.
In fact, a type of formal treatment involving taking part in outdoor activities in nature even has a name – ecotherapy – which involves doing an activity, which in the case of forest bathing would be walking, in a green environment.
As forest bathing gains popularity in the UK, some tips to make the most of it include turning off any devices, picking a quiet time to walk among the trees, being aware with other senses such as touch smell and sound as well as vision, breathing deeply, and staying out for as little or as long as is pleasant and enjoyable.
