Do you remember a special tree from your childhood? Maybe the tree outside your bedroom window, or one you saw on the drive to grandma’s or one you connected with on a week at camp? I had two tree friends as a child, a maple that my parents planted the year I was born, and an old willow in our backyard that had perfect branches to climb on and perch while reading a book. As a child, spending time with these trees felt like being with friends.
As we grow older, we tend to leave our tree friends behind as we become involved in our adult lives. Adult lives don’t always include time to be quiet with the trees. We are influenced to think of trees as resources or as landscaping. We forget the gentle strength of our mighty forest friends. Recently, though, the ability of being in the forest has been recognized for how it can benefit our health and mental wellbeing in so many ways.
Forest Therapy, sometimes also called Forest Bathing, is a practice to support health and wellness by ‘bathing’ in the vibration of nature. No nakedness is required. What is required is slowing down, and ‘BATHING’ in the colors, scents, sounds, textures, and presence of the beings of the forest. Forest Therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which literally means ‘bathing in the forest’. This is not an ancient practice, but one created in the past 40 years to help combat the extreme stress related death rates of Japanese executives. The name honors the ancient Shinto religion, that recognizes all things, including trees and mountains, are beings.
Many people might feel that they are accomplishing forest bathing when they walk their dog, bike on a trail, or take a run down the road. Sadly, they are probably missing the most important aspects of forest bathing. I have also seen many forest therapy programs that would require someone to have an already healthy fitness level to cover the terrain and length of their program. This is not necessary to have a powerful forest bathing experience, one that can fit people of any ability.
When I created my Forest Therapy Certification, program, I had been leading people of various abilities on forest bathing experiences for years. I had read all the research I could find on what the ‘Shinrin-Yoku’ scientists had been discovering on the ‘why’ does this program work. It’s not about distance or just being outside. It does work for a variety of reasons that the scientists have studied. Below are some of the highlights.
Color and Light
Our bodies need sunlight to produce vitamin D. However, the colors that surround us ( which is the light from the sun being reflected off of the surroundings) also has an impact on our body and our psyche. Being surrounded by nature colors, and even nature shapes, can lower blood pressure and make an impact on our heart rate variability. Therefore, a walk in the park with the blue sky, the green trees and grass, and the earthy colors, has much more benefit than a stroll down the city street of grey and white boxy buildings, black asphalt, and pointy shapes from structures.
Earthing
The earth has a natural hertz level that NASA scientists have found that people need to be healthy. An Earthing practice reduces inflammation in the body. And inflammation is the root of many of our current chronic disease conditions. When we are our walking in our rubber soled shoes, we are missing that true energy connection to the earth. We are insulated from it. Going barefoot (just sitting with your bare feet on the ground if you don’t like walking barefoot) for 30 minutes or more can provide a powerful anti-inflammation treatment for your body. Sitting on the ground or laying on a blanket in the grass also ‘earth’s you. But perhaps a way to earth yourself in all seasons it to find a new tree friend. Your tree is literally plugged into the ground through its roots, and by touching, leaning against and even hugging the tree is connecting you to this earth energy.
Being Aware
A key to the power of forest therapy is truly being aware of your surroundings. If you are taking your walk while thinking about the day’s problems, or talking to a friend, or listening to a podcast on your phone, you are not truly bathing in the forest’s energy. Being aware means moving slowly. Noticing natures sounds, scents, and textures disconnects you from your worries and allows you to be very present with what is. Giving yourself a break from worry, from anger, from fear, is a step to heal the mind and the soul, which translates to healing in the body.
Breathing
The air from the forest is different that the air in a town, and even in your own home. The air of the forest is filled with the oxygen that the trees and other plants have just breathed out. It’s purified and also laced with powerful natural chemicals or essential oils. Did you know that trees do talk? They talk to each other and also all the creatures of the forest through scent, and through the mitochondrial network of fungi beneath the ground. But with scent, they can communicate instantly. They use scent to talk about insects that are damaging them, or other dangers that exist. Scientists say that these scent messages sent by the forest trees are one that our biology recognizes at a subtle level and can help us with our immune system as well. While scientists are still studying if there are perfect types of trees ( pine, oak, maple, etc.) for a forest bathing experience, they agree that all trees can have a benefit just from the cleansed oxygen they release.
Imagining
A powerful part of the forest bathing experience is activating your imagination. Look and experience nature with a childlike joy. In forest therapy group sessions, we have ‘invitations’, such as watching the clouds and see what animals they look like to you or looking for footprints in the forest and imagining what animal made them. You don’t have to be right, it’s just observing and imagining.
Honoring Nature
A key part of every experience I lead, is how we can honor nature and give back. While the forest gives freely, we should not just take without giving back or giving thanks. Honoring means realizing that trees, plants, and the creatures of the forest are all beings, and have a life force energy. They are not disposable. They live together in community, and we used to be a part of that community. We are welcome there again. Once you realize this, you will want to do what you can to protect and save those beings that you come to love. It can be as simple as picking up litter, or more involved in terms of how you change your consumer lifestyle and choices, so that you help to save the beings in nature.
Create your own Experience
You can have a beautiful nature bathing experience in you own backyard, if you use the principles here. Give yourself an hour, and you will be surprised at the magic that can be yours. And perhaps you will even make new tree friends.
LuAnn Cibik
Inner Harmony
www.inner-harmony.org