How to Take A Forest Bath?
There are several things people do to unleash stress, like spend time with loved ones, going shopping, a self -treat to a nice expensive dinner, walk to one of the nearest parks, or even hibernate. We have grown knowing that nature can help us clear our thoughts and make us feel lighter. It works like a medicine to cure our mental imbalance with no side effects.
Therefore, getting in touch with nature is one of the best ways to de-stress.
Modern life depends hugely on technology and we are subconsciously and consciously inclined towards it. This is an era of gadgets, and many individuals starting from teenagers to the elderly use them – it is hard to find an Individual who doesn’t own a mobile phone. People spend more time on their gadgets than they do with their family and loved ones and it is found that they are also now seeking happiness from the applications they have in their mobile phones and laptops.
People have essentially lost contact with nature and have become helplessly attached to gadgets. As a result, stress levels and health hazards caused by the modern way of life has increased widely, especially in the last decade. So, getting away from one’s daily schedule and heading into the wilderness of a forest is a very good idea. Mother Nature helps us to rejuvenate and we know little about the various wonders nature can shower upon us, In the context of our emotional, physical and mental wellbeing.
Nature offers us enormous health benefits. For instance, just inhaling the fresh air, gazing at the greenery of the trees, lending our ears to the birds singing, gurgling of a stream, the screeching of the insects and the fragrance of the forest helps lower stress levels, strengthens concentration and puts one in refresh mode.
Tips For Forest Bathing
- Forest bathing practice; therefore going for check-ups to doctors for health issues will be wiser.
- If you plan on taking a whole day forest bathing, a minimum of four hours and a walk of about five kilometers is advisable, If it’s for half a day, a two-hour stay in the forest and a walk of about two and a hail kilometer is recommended.
- For upgrading your immunity, a three day/two nights forest bathing trip is recommended. And for stress relaxation, a day trip will help.
- While forest bathing, if tired you can rest in the forest.
- Spending sometime anywhere in the forest that you find refreshing can add up to the experience.
- A hot spring bath after forest bathing will give you better relaxation. ,
- In the absence of a forest, parks with a good number of trees and greenery will help in relaxing.
This kind of experience mentioned above, is explained by a term called Shinrin-yoku, which is a Japanese word, meaning, ‘forest bathing.’ Shinrin-yoku was brought to light In 1982 by the Forest Agency of Japan to bring about awareness to practice a healthy lifestyle through forest bathing, which is simply stepping out of the house for a walk in the park or into the woods for hiking. It has been recognized around the globe as a means of relaxation and a stress management activity.
The wonder behind forest bathing is that the trees in the forest generate allelochemical substances better known as phytoncides, which are pheromones for plants. Their task is to fend off the pesky insects and delay the growth of bacteria and fungi. Phytoncides are present in some plants, which has a strong aroma such as tea tree, oak, pine, onion and garlic. It is scientifically proven that when the chemical phytoncides is exposed to human beings it helps to lower blood pressure, subsides stress by lifting the scale of energy and lowering the scale of anxiety and lowers depression and anger too.
Also, it is found to boost the growth of cancer-fighting white blood cells. Research has been conducted and observed that by breathing in the phytoncides, it increases the immune function up to 30 days. Opening all senses to Mother Nature strengthens our intuitions and clarity of the world we live in.
Forest bathing has multi benefits for you and your health, so what are you waiting for? Keep aside all your gadgets, pack your bags and take a stroll in the nearest forest you can find.