Why Forest Bathing is such a potent tool for health and wellness
Awe and presence can be two of the most powerful forces of emotional, psychological, spiritual, and even physical well-being.
As outlined in this 2023 New York Times article entitled “How a Bit of Awe Can Improve Your Health”, author Hope Reese explores how a sense of awe can help relax our nervous system and trigger the release of oxytocin, the hormone most associated with bonding, trust, and love. Furthermore, awe has a powerful ability to quiet negative self-talk and allow us to be more present in each moment without that nagging voice in our heads telling us why we aren’t good enough.
Presence is another state of being that can vastly improve our physical and emotional health. Research into the healing power of mindfulness has exploded over the past few years along with practices such as meditation becoming more mainstream in our society. Presence and mindfulness have been shown to lower blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and stress. Mindfulness also helps to alleviate chronic pain symptoms, improve sleep, and strengthen cardiovascular functioning.
It is reasonable to believe, then, that awe and presence are a one-two punch of healing and well-being for our bodies, hearts, and minds.
Living in the Berkshires, we find ourselves lucky enough to be surrounded by a great helper in the quest to embody more awe and presence- the Natural World and the Forests. Spending time in Nature can open doors for awe and presence and help us feel more connected, more calm, more at peace, and more grateful (all of those are healing properties too!).
However, as is often discussed in mindfulness circles, the how is critical to the potency of anything we do, including spending time in Nature. This is where the practice of Forest Bathing comes in.
Forest Bathing, or Shinrin Yoku, is centered around opening oneself to the healing power of the Natural World- it involves a deeply immersive and guided forest experience designed to help participants slow down and open to a state of true receptivity to the world around us. By rooting in slowness, receptivity, openness, and mindfulness, Forest Bathing allows people to go deeper in their awareness of and connection to the Natural World and, through that, deepen the healing that can come from their time in the Forest.
As a guided experience, participants are able to let down their guard, put down their watches, and be held in a strong and sacred container that facilitates the greatest amount of healing and wellness.
This practice started in Japan in the 1980s as a way to address widespread physical and mental health epidemics. The Japanese government saw that many people were suffering from physical ailments and psychological challenges that correlated to longer work-days and more time spent in offices, so decided to study Forest Bathing as an antidote to this downward trend in health. The results of these inquiries were astounding!
Studies have shown that Forest Bathing helps lower stress and anxiety, strengthen immune function, improve cardiovascular and metabolic health, and boost overall well-being. These benefits arise both immediately during a Forest Bathing session, and also build over time with repeated exposure and work with this practice.
Through purposeful, facilitated exercises, participants will be able to connect with and experience the forest in a way that is rich and unique compared to how most of us normally interact with the woods. This approach allows us to experience deep rest, relaxation, presence, and receptivity, allowing the forest to open our minds and hearts and provide a healing influence on us. We will also be creating and holding a community atmosphere during our session together. Through group sharing and interactions, we will be supporting and witnessing each other in this process and build interpersonal bonds that can transcend the two-hour experience itself. This practice allows us to connect with the forest, a community of like-minded people, and ourselves- all in one sitting!