The term forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku, emerged in Japan in the 1980s and is all about de-stressing from the pressures of modern day life by immersing yourself in nature in a way that allows you to decompress.
While the term itself can sound a bit airy-fairy, getting out into nature is a practice that has well recognised physical and mental health benefits. While any immersion in nature is beneficial, ideally it’s not about speed but taking a slow meander, wandering the forests or sitting and thinking without the intrusions of technology – reducing the need to fill the silence with conversation and allow you to truely take in your surroundings.
The following is just a small selection of articles if you are interested in finding out more about forest bathing:
It doesn’t matter what the oftenest looks like but rather how you take it in!