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First time I'm hearing this but it sure sounds interesting! Gonna try it asap!
Wow, I love this!
I’ve been living in a city for about two years now. Although I love the constant commotion and busy streets, I’ve never felt farther from the nature I grew up around. It’s projected that by 2050, 66% of the world’s population will live in cities, and our increasing disconnect from nature will profoundly affect our health.
Whenever I’m in a slump, I’ve learned to go outside, and last weekend I realized I needed more nature than just the trees planted on my building’s roof. I ventured to the Billy Goat Trail, just 30 minutes outside D.C. in Virginia, a beautiful scenic hike photographed above. Afterward, I told my friend about my rejuvenating experience, and they called it “forest bathing.” Surprisingly, this is an actual term and not something as made up as it sounds.
In Japan, they practice forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, which means taking in the forest through your senses. It’s as easy as a walk in the woods. All you have to do is find a spot— it can be a forest, a park, or even a garden, anywhere there are abundant trees. The point is not to hurry, closely observe, and let your body be your guide by unlocking your senses to the nature around you. You can sit and appreciate the silence, study the plants, anything that eases your mind.
Numerous studies have shown that forest bathing has real health benefits like reduced stress, lower blood pressure, and accelerated recovery from illness or trauma. There are so many pressures we face every day, and when you’re living in a city, stress can be heightened just by walking down the street. When we connect with nature, we're better able to manage this stress. Nature is, after all, our constant reminder that we’re all just one part of a larger whole.