What is Forest Bathing

Forest bathing involves immersing yourself in a forest environment and using all five senses to connect with nature. Also known as shinrin yoku, it is a practice that originated in Japan and is an accepted form of therapy and part of Japanese preventative health.

Research has shown that Forest Bathing has mental, physical and spiritual health benefits that can reduce stress, improve feelings of happiness, free up creativity, lower heart rate and blood pressure, boost the immune system and accelerate recovery from illness. The benefits can be divided into two categories: mental wellbeing benefits and physical wellbeing benefits.

Mental benefits include reduced tension and stress, improved mood, better powers of concentration and freer creativity. Physical benefits include lowered blood pressure, boosted immune system and accelerated recovery from illness and trauma.

Research shows that connecting to nature can be linked to happiness and mental wellbeing, releasing hormones that relate to the pursuit of joy, connecting to calm and avoiding threats. Spending time in nature can reduce cortisol levels and anxiety, as well as improve creativity and concentration. Phytoncides emitted by trees and plants have been found to boost the immune system, and studies have demonstrated that even a natural view from a hospital window can speed up convalescence.

To fully immerse yourself in the practice of forest bathing, it’s important to find a natural environment with trees and set aside at least two hours. Disconnect from technology, walk slowly and deliberately through nature, engage your senses by listening to the sounds, smelling the scents, feeling the textures, and observing the colours and shapes of the flora and fauna. Take breaks to sit, relax, and reflect on your surroundings, and use this time to reflect on your own inner state and how you feel.

Forest bathing activities can help you find a deeper connection with nature and include practising yoga, meditating, observing the natural surroundings in a mindful manner, reflecting on the experience through journaling or using the natural surroundings as inspiration for artistic expression. You could go as far as to enjoy a shinrin-yoku tea ceremony with a cup of tea brewed from forest plants like pine needles or wild herbs.

Kamalaya Connect offers an online Mind-Body Balance session designed for you to find inner peace and can support your Forest Bathing practice. During this 60-minute session, a personal mentor will assess any signs and symptoms of emotional imbalances such as anger, anxiety and excessive worrying that may manifest as physical exhaustion, weight gain, eating disorders and insomnia. Through counselling, yoga Nidra, pranayama and meditative practices, this session aims to create balance and address any emotional concerns for greater inner harmony and balance.