Japan's Shinrin-yoku Has Positive Vibes
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Japanese practice of "forest bathing" – shinrin-yoku – spending time communing in nature away from the hustle and bustle of civilization is increasingly popular worldwide as technology is ever more present in our lives.
A wellness technique that started in Japan in the 1980s, people in Japan's work-centric culture began escaping the office, seeking out natural settings to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Workers’ calendars soon included entries to visit a forested spot, walk along a nature trail, or find a quiet space in a garden.
Favorite places for forest bathing in Japan include Nikko National Park near Tokyo, Yoshino-Kumano National Park (known for its deer) in the Nara prefecture, and Yakushima Island with its 1,000-year-old cedar trees.
Forest bathing can restore and refresh you. SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti learned that beauty and personal products company Crabtree and Evelyn even recommends it as a “self-care essential.”
In America, while going to Yellowstone or Yosemite’s giant redwoods is the gold standard for forest bathing, there are many other places you can go. SurfWriter Girls friend Norma Sellers always manages to find a tranquil spot.
The important thing is to pick a scenic spot away from buildings, traffic, and other signs of the city. What's more, the ocean or even the desert can easily be substituted for the trees if that’s your happy place.
Whether you're hiking, walking or sitting on a bench, turn off your phone and focus on seeing and feeling the natural environment around you. Birds soaring high. Flowers bursting with color and fragrance. Trees towering above. Waves breaking on the shore.
As you slow down to nature's time, you will feel the tension leaving you, your mind expanding with new thoughts, and your creative juices flowing. Relaxed and refreshed, ready to replace the incessant demands of an ever-ticking clock with a calming wave of positive vibes.
To learn more about forest bathing, take a look at the books featured.
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