‘Shinrin’ in Japanese means ‘forest’, and yoku means ‘bath’ – so ‘shinrin-yoku’ means bathing in the forest atmosphere, or taking in the forest through our senses,” explains Dr Qing Li, President of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine.
“This is not exercise, hiking or jogging – it is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our sense of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Shinrin-Yoku bridges the gap between us and the natural world.”
Having studied forest medicine since 2003, Dr Li explains how forest bathing has become a vital part of preventative healthcare in Japan – prescribed to improve sleep quality, ability to focus and mood – which in turn, aids both physical and mental health by reducing the effects of stress on your body.
“Immersed in the natural world, we can experience the miracle of life and connect to something larger than ourselves. Nature takes our breath away and breathes new life into us”.
On a more local level, Sonya Dibbin is a Forest Therapy and Earthwalking Guide who lives in Winchester with her son. She set up ‘Adore Your Outdoors’ (adoreyouroutdoors.co.uk) in 2019 following a successful 25 years in IT Management.
“I wanted to spend more time outside in nature to connect with my creative side, and I felt a strong desire to help others with their emotional wellbeing. I have been interested in mental health for over a decade; I qualified in level 4 Therapeutic Counselling in 2011, and more recently in Children and Young People’s Mental Health.
Denne historien er fra July 2020-utgaven av Hampshire Life.
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Denne historien er fra July 2020-utgaven av Hampshire Life.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Southampton's first Michelin star?
Newly opened southeast Asian restaurant, Blue Jasmine, could have all the right ingredients to claim the coveted title
This GIRL CAN
Tracy Edwards MBE paved the way for women in sport with her boat Maiden. Now, 30 years on, she’s showing women around the world that they can do something amazing too
The good ship LIBERTY
A call out on Instagram saw this Overton artist being included in the iconic Liberty Book
For KING & country
Can someone be born into greatness? We share the story of one of Britain’s most underrated monarchs, Henry III
Doing it for THEMSELVES
Multi-tasking sisters Iman and Yasmine El Sheik have just launched their new haircare brand Divinely Made, set to transform curly locks across the country
The Bear Ladies
Julie Tatchel and Amanda Middleditch from Bear It In Mind in Hythe regularly have viewers in tears with their bear restorations on the BBC hit show, The Repair Shop
A walk in Wonderland
A New Forest walk in the footsteps of Alice Hargreaves, the inspiration behind Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland
Creature comfort
From growing up with Hampshire racehorses to caring for dogs and cats at home, Clare Balding’s love of animals has seen her through good times and bad
A rare find
Hampshire’s diverse habitats attract all of Britain’s six native species of reptiles
A friend in need
Margot has met a kindred spirit to share her renovation horror stories
