I have a couple of woods within walking distance and I walk the dog through at least one of them most days. There is something calming about being surrounded by trees and I definitely head towards them on my walks.
I enjoy walking through woods and have had of something called ‘Forest bathing’ before but I had never really looked into it. For this blog I decided to research and write posts on woods, fields and water (rivers, lakes etc). For my woods research I have looked into forest bathing to see what I can find.
Forest bathing is a Japanese process of relaxation, it is known in Japan as Shinrin yoku and was developed in the 1980’s following scientific studies. ‘Shinrin’ means Forest and ‘yoku’ means bathing. It’s a simple method to relax the mind and revitalise. The aim is to de-stress and boost health by breathing deeply and observing the nature around you. This is a form of meditation which can be relatively easily achieved and the positive hormones released in the body can make you feel less sad, angry and anxious.
- Turn off phones and any other electronic devices to enable you to relax more without the interruption of notifications and messages.
- Walk slowly so you can notice and be more aware of what is around you.
- Stop and take in your surroundings using all your senses – what can you see, hear and smell?
- Sit quietly and be mindful, try not to think about your to do list and deadlines.
- Keep your eyes open to notice the many small animals rustling around. Studies have shown people relax better looking at greens and blues.
- Stay as long as you can, the Japanese practice recommends two hours for the full experience but even just a few minutes is likely to melt away some of the stress of life.
The aim to be a little more than walking around the woods, an emphasis is definitely placed on taking time and being mindful and aware of what is around you.
These studies found that two hours of mindful exploration in a forest could lower blood pressure, lower cortisol (stress hormone) and improve concentration and memory. The studies also found that trees release chemicals that have an anti-microbial effect on the human body which boosts the immune system. As a result of the research the Japanese government introduced Shinrin Yoku as a national health programme.
I will have to admit I am interested by this and will definitely try this one soon and hopefully I can convince my boys to come with me (this is admittedly optimistic, they are teenagers). I have never purposely tried to relax in woods although I do enjoy walking through them. The fact that trees release chemicals that can boost the immune system is something I had never heard of before and I want to explore further.
What is tree hugging?
Whilst doing some research into Forest Bathing I decided to have a look at tree hugging too, again something I had heard of but not entirely sure what it was or even if it’s a thing.
It appears it is a thing but not as widely recognised or studied as forest bathing. Whilst in the woods it is as simple as choosing a tree and giving it a hug! Don’t necessarily go for the first tree you see but take a little time to find one that you like and just give it a hug, lasting at least a couple of minutes.
Hugging a tree increases oxytocin which is the hormone responsible for feeling calm and emotional bonding. You also release the hormones serotonin and dopamine which makes you feel happier. Its also been suggested the vibrations of trees and plants can offer health benefits.
Editing this post to add my experiences, I have found myself spending more time appreciating the woods although my dog doesn’t allow me much time for slowing down and attempting to be mindful. The bluebells are coming out at the moment so will aim to head out to the woods at the weekend and look out for the blue and green colours.