Bathe In The Glory Of Nature

Ditch the city, escape to the wild, and bond with nature—with the Japanese philosophy of shinrin-yoku.

- Tanvi Jain

Imagine walking barefoot in a dense, green forest, breathing in fresh air, feeling moist grass under your feet, listening to the rustling of leaves, and the chirping of birds, and take in a melange of earthy aromas—isn’t just the thought of this therapeutic?

To put it simply, forest bathing is the act of spending quality time in a forest. It works on the principles of mindfulness and meditation, takes you to another level of corporeal awareness, and helps you open all your senses to natural surroundings. Popularly known as shinrinyoku, this phenomenon started in Japan in 1982 as a part of a public health programme, which sought to spread awareness about the health benefits of nature. The term shinrinyoku was first coined by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. The purpose was to provide an antidote to technology and inspire people to protect forests.

It’s not to be confused with running, jogging, or trekking; it’s simply the act of taking a slow walk in the forest to soak up its medicinal qualities. With time, various studies across the globe have proven that forest bathing holds the key to solving many health problems.

Currently, Japan has around 62 forest bases and trails, and each one has a healing feature of its own. Almost two-thirds of the country is covered in forest. There are even experts to help you understand the concept of forest bathing and how it helps one connect with nature through all the five senses.

Improving the cardiovascular and immune systems, stabilising mood, reducing blood pressure, stabilising salivary cortisol and heart rate, and controlling diabetes, are some of the many health benefits that forest bathing offers.