Walks in Nature
How science has developed a theory based on Japanese practices of forest bathing to heal the mind and body
Part 5 of Monday May Mindfulness Month
“In 1865, Olmsted reflected on the role of natural scenery in psychological restoration: it “employs the mind without fatigue and yet exercises it; tranquilizes it and yet enlivens it; and thus, through the influence of the mind over the body, gives the effect of refreshing rest and reinvigoration to the whole system”
The cheapest form of therapy is literally right outside your doorstep, and the ultimate therapist, Mother Nature herself.
Shinrin-Yoku, is a Japanese term that merged in the 1980’s to describe a phenomenon known as ‘forest-bathing.’ The Japanese, notorious for their gorgeous foliage and centuries of mindfulness practices, began conducting studies on the physiological changes that come about in humans when we are immersed in nature. They saw this ecotherapy as a practical response to the increase of indoor desk-jobs that put millions of people in front of technology within a sedentary lifestyle throughout the entirety of the day.
It is said that by 2050, 66% of the world’s population is projected to live in cities. A study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency said that the average American already spends an average of 93% of his/her time indoors.
Since the tech boom, internationally there has been an increase in chronic diseases of the mind and body. Although many factors contribute to this rise, obsession over our technology is a key factor to mental health problems and a lack of exercise another key factor in deteriorating physical wellbeing. A study conducted in America (2017) on the mental wellbeing of college students yielded the following results:
“College students reported more than average of tremendous stress (67%); feeling overwhelming anxiety (61%); hopelessness (51%); and 13.2% had been diagnosed or treated for depression or anxiety.”
Solutions for these ongoing problems have come plenty; whether in the shape of pills or a therapist office couch, scientists are constantly looking for ways to slow the incline of this health epidemic.
In the 1990s enough research was conducted to support the thesis of positive physiological changes occurring in our mind and body when forest bathing. A conclusion our bodies innately had already known.
It is as if we forgot our roots (pun intended), are within the trees.
Anthropologically, the species of human traces back to the trees. We spent over 5 million years in forests and other natural landscapes that our bodies have not forgotten what brings them peace and homeostasis.
A key part of the study done in Japan was to compare and contrast living in a city versus nature. Our overall physiology is better suited in natural settings, we are built to survive the elements, to forage and hunt, and to attune into our 5 senses in a balanced fashion.
When we started migrating to big cities our primary sense became sight, and our other senses lost development because they did not have as big of a use. The dog I take care of currently, has immense sound anxiety problems. He has forced me to become more aware of all the sounds present in a noisy city because I find myself constantly looking for the next threat that may send him spiralling. I began noticing how little peace and quiet exists in the city and it reminded me how sounds send our own bodies into an extremely mild state of fear, especially when it is something we do not recognize.
The same can be true about the amount of people we now interact with in a day. I remember learning about the primitive part of the brain and how, cognitively, our primitive brain is accustomed to seeing the same faces day in and day out; our tribe. Our human lineage can be traced back to a time where our family and small village was known as ‘safe’ in our neurology and we recognized and trusted those faces. However, anytime an intruder was present they were easily recognized because they were not “famili-ar.” That would present a fear and the stress response system would ensue and take over for our survival.
Nowadays, we are surrounded by strangers. Just walk down a busy city street and you pass hundreds of people a day. Our brain works tirelessly to process efficiently all of these faces to ensure they are not dangerous. This process is happening so speedily that we often do not even notice it, but our bodies are slowly releasing more stress hormones in our body by just being over-stimulated by outside noises and crowds.
The counter to this goes back to the yin and the yang. It is modern society, and our bodies are built to adapt and change, but we can over do it if do not instill a state of balance between busy-ness and mindfulness.
The practice of forest bathing is simple. You unplug for 20-30 minutes a day and just consciously walk outside in nature. When you take in your surroundings, you become aware of all 5 of your senses at work. The smells, sights, noises, touch a tree or a plant, taste the fresh air in your mouth. Explore what it feels like to revert back to your natural state, as a human. Not just a worker, a parent, a daughter/son, or any other title society has given you. When you enter the present moment, calmness and peace greet you, and the magic of our innate healing can overcome you.
Numerous studies have been conducted to prove the power of shinrin-yoku as a wellness tool.
In Japan, the results of the physiological experiment done in 24 of the forests showed that forest bathing can lower blood pressures, heart rate, the levels of harmful hormones including cortisol (the stress hormone), increase parasympathetic nervous system activity, and produce a more calm and relaxed state. All of these factors combined promotes an increase in happiness and well-being, with a decrease in stress and anxiety.
The multiple studies conducted in both Japan and the US substantiated these results and forest bathing became a clear tool for those seeking a natural healing modality.
Whether you are going for a walk, doing yoga, having a picnic, doing Tai-Chi, meditating, breathing, practicing art, you can move anything that you do indoors, to the outdoors for an enhanced experience and increase in your well-being. When you move mindfully in nature you are connecting to all that is, the undercurrent of life itself that provides a boost of vitality that no manmade electrical current could replicate.
To explore more about forest bathing consider reading the following book by Dr. Qing Li.
