Wellness

TREES CAN MAKE YOU MORE BEAUTIFUL NOW

Rays of sunlight stream over a field of bluebells in a forest. Wiltshire, England.

by Graham Duerden. “West Woods Bluebells.” Wiltshire, England.

FOREST BATHING

Just as bathing cleanses the body, forest bathing cleanses and heals mind and spirit.

Anecdotal evidence has long suggested that a walk in the woods can do you good.

Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Research is showing that Nature heals. And now shinrin-yoku and forest therapy are being practiced around the world.

For example, many trees give off organic compounds that support our “NK” (natural killer) cells that are part of our immune system's way of fighting cancer.

The Association of Nature and Forest Therapy offers Guides and Programs that combines leisurely walks on gentle paths under forest canopy with guided activities to help you open your senses, hone your intuition, and experience the forest as you never have before.

Shinrin-Yoku.org draws upon mindfulness meditation practices, and the techniques of deep nature connection mentoring. They organize Shinrin-yoku forest therapy walks.

Beautiful view of Kreis Pond, Lolo National Forest. Montana.

In his study on the effects of trees and nature on healing, psychologist Roger Ulrich demonstrated quicker recovery times for hospital patients who had a view of the natural world outside their hospital windows.

Gorgeous rays of light stream in the forest. Lane, Oregon.

We know that trees produce oxygen, so we have air to breathe. But recent studies have also shown that phytoncides, antimicrobial chemical compounds manufactured by many plants and trees, evaporate into the atmosphere to act as air fresheners, giving us cleaner, healthier air.

Majestic Pine Forest. Blue Mountains, Australia.

In addition, pinene, a phytoncide compound in pine and other conifer trees, repels insects. And studies show that they increase the abilities of human antibodies to combat viruses, tumors, and some cancers.

Stunning colors of the Bamboo Forest in fall rain. Kyoto, Japan.

Inspired by Buddhist and Shinto practices, the Japanese practice of shinrin yoku, or “forest bathing,” is a tree-inspired sensory immersion. Seeing, touching, smelling, and tasting the trees and plants, restores calm and well-being.

Beautiful reflection of the sky on a forest lake. Klamath, Oregon.

Forest bathing has been shown to have beneficial effects on our immune systems, mood, self-esteem, physical fitness, blood pressure, anxiety, memory, attention, and creativity, among other benefits.

Women mediates while sitting on a clay rock in a field of trees. Sedona, Arizona.

L’Auberge de Sedona offers shinrin yoku on its beautiful wooded estate in Sedona, Arizona, which I have personally enjoyed. But you can do it anywhere you find a patch of beautiful trees. It’s a great way to unplug.

Gorgeous rays of sunlight stream over Beaver Falls in Oregon. Columbia, Oregon.

The interest in forest bathing has grown over the past several years. As more people live in urban settings, as we spend more time indoors and plugged into electronic devices, forest bathing can be a perfect antidote.

Stunning green forest. Azores, Portugal.

An increasing number of nature retreats, such as Earthwalk Ways, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, offer “forest therapy.”

Beautiful sun splashed tropical forest path. KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Robert Zarr, a pediatrician in Washington, D.C., is a “physician champion” of DC Parks Rx, and prescribes time outside rather than pills, when appropriate.

Gorgeous cherry blossom trees and daffodils in Branch Brook Park. Newark, NJ.

Another fascinating new study published recently in the journal Nature, entitled "Neighborhood Greenspace and Health in a Large Urban Center," suggests that people who live on streets with 10 more trees have a significantly improved perception of health and wellbeing.

Park promenade of gorgeous cherry blossom trees covered with fallen pedals. Stockholm, Sweden.

See how forest bathing works for you: Wander through the forest and find a place to sit and “bathe,” and pay attention to the beautiful trees around you, for as little as just 20 minutes.

Beautiful reflection of trees on a lake.

For more info, check out A Little Guidebook of Shinrin-Yoku. And check out more about the physical, mental and emotional benefits of forest bathing at The Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs.

Stunning Avenue of the Baobabs. Madagascar.

Read more about Magnificent Trees in These Magnificent Trees Deserve & Need A Visit.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

Beautiful green of Killarney National Park. Ireland.

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Beautiful birch tree forest.

IMAGE CREDITS:

Image: by Graham Duerden. “West Woods Bluebells.” Wiltshire, England.
Image: by Micah Sheldon. Kreis Pond, Lolo National Forest. Montana.
Image: by Bo Nielsen. “Forest Rays.” Lane, Oregon.
Image: by Joan Elizabeth, of Blue Mountain Journal. Pine Forest. Blue Mountains, Australia.
Image: by Luke Zeme. “Bamboo Forest.” Kyoto, Japan.
Image: by Michael (a.k.a. moik) McCullough. Unnamed Lake, Snow Lakes Trail - Sky Lakes Wilderness, Oregon. Klamath, Oregon.
Image: Courtesy of L’Auberge de Sedona. Music and Meditation. Sedona, Arizona.
Image: by Michael Matti. “Beaver Falls in Oregon.” Columbia, Oregon.
Image: by Mika Hiironniemi. “Forest.” Azores, Portugal.
Image: by Steve Slater. “Tropical Forest Path.” KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Image: by Joshua Siniscal. “Branch Brook Park. Newark, NJ.” Newark, NJ.
Image: by Hector Melo A. “Colors of Spring.” Stockholm, Sweden.
Image: by David Strom. “Forest.”
Image: by Kiran SV, of Favorite Tourist Place. Avenue of the Baobabs. Madagascar.
Image: by Stanley Zimny. “Spring Green Reflection.”
Image: by Aida Mira Rodriguez. “Killarney National Park.” Ireland.
Image: by Ryan McLean. “Birch Trees.”