THE MAGICAL POWERS OF FOREST BATHING
Last week after my long run in the IIT Madras Campus, I decided to venture into the forest area after leaving my mobile phone behind in my car. I let my body guide me, and I wandered into the woods at a tortoise’s pace. I slowly felt nature enter me through my ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands and feet. My ears took in the melodic sounds of the birds singing and the breeze rustling in the leaves of the trees as my eyes gazed at the trees’ varied greens while the sun’s rays danced and filtered through the branches. My nose inhaled the fragrance of the forest and the natural aromatherapy of phytoncides. I placed my hands on the tree’s trunk and felt the tree’s life force mingle with mine as I felt a pleasant tingle rip through me, filling me with a sense of joy and calm. The serenity and bliss of the woods were all that I needed to unfasten my senses to the power of the forest and establish a connection with it.
The exhaustion of having just run 42 km and all the stresses and problems hanging over me evaporate instantly, enabling me to relax, eliciting a new perspective which allowed me to view the negatives of my life positively. I felt my energy come back miraculously, refreshing and rejuvenating me with unknown vitality. Being in nature felt so good. The screeches of the grove, the aroma of the trees, the rays of the sun playing through the leaves, and the fresh, clean air gave me a sense of comfort and a feeling of peace, unknown
Have you ever been to a forest? Have you spent time there? Did your time there feel like heaven on earth? Do you often yearn for the peace of the woods? Do you ever feel like you’re constantly running on a hamster wheel? Like you can’t escape the same old things, people, and routines? So much in this world feels out of our control. But what if there was a way to make a change in your life that was in your control? What if you could relieve the stress of your day, refresh your mind, and rejuvenate your soul all in one go? Forest Bathing is just that for some people.
If your answer is yes to some of the questions posed above, you probably need a forest bath. Forest bathing is just being in nature and connecting to it through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. In Japan, people practise forest bathing or shinrin-yoku. Shinrin in Japanese means “forest,” and yoku means “bath.” Hence, shinrin-yoku means bathing in the forest setting or drinking in the wilderness through our senses. The word “bathing” is associated with dirtiness and uncleanliness. However, this is not the case with forest bathing because people do this type of bathing in natural surroundings. The natural surroundings make the bathing experience seem so much more spiritual as it helps them reconnect with nature because it involves mindfulness. You can achieve a state of mindfulness through various meditation forms and forest bathing. During forest bathing, like during mindful activities, you deepen your senses, suspend judgment, and focus on the “now”, which connects you with your consciousness or soul.
Forest bathing, a form of spending time in nature, has immense benefits for one’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. If you spend time in the woods, you might have noticed that you feel more alert, refreshed, and grounded. Spending time in the natural elements of the woods, like trees and streams or living near a forest or going to green space has many benefits for your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. But forest bathing isn’t a new concept. It’s been with humanity for thousands of years. It’s a practice that dates back to at least the early 1900s. A forest bathing session is an intentional act where people go to reconnect with nature, get some fresh air, and get their minds and bodies back in balance. It’s also a type of exposure therapy that helps people with mental health problems beat the stress and pressures of life by giving them a chance to experience the natural environment. It’s no wonder that people are getting drawn to this practice in this age of technology. People find this practice incredibly inspiring besides experiencing a plethora of health benefits.
Stress and anxiety can affect your life and your relationships. Stress can hurt your health and your day-to-day life. Many people find that stress and anxiety can suddenly creep into their lives without warning. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, it might be time to think about how you might be able to have a healthier, more stress-free lifestyle. Forest bathing is a green lifestyle. It’s a way of thinking, feeling, and spending time in nature to reconnect with ourselves and become more in tune with the natural world. Forests act as natural air purifiers, filtering out harmful elements and releasing oxygen into the environment. While we breathe in the fresh air, we breathe in phytoncides, airborne chemicals that plants give off to protect themselves from insects. Phytoncides have antibacterial and antifungal qualities, which help plants fight disease.
One Japanese study illustrated that participants averaged a massive 50 per cent rise in natural killer (NK) cell activity after a three-day camping excursion in the forest. Hence, science reveals that Forest bathing boosts immunity, reduces cancer risk, and enables you to recover from illness faster. One study showed that even glancing at trees through a hospital window decreased recovery time for gallbladder surgery patients. Further, walking through the woods also increases your body’s adiponectin levels and reduces the risk of heart attack due to its anti-inflammatory impact on blood vessel cells. The D-limonene found in some forest air may reduce lung inflammation. Those with breathing troubles like asthma and COPD have exhibited improvement after forest bathing due to high oxygen levels in the forest, which consequently reduces inflammation
There are many benefits of forest bathing: stress reduction, relaxation, and improved mental health and cardiovascular function. It is proven to lower stress hormone generation, heighten feelings of happiness, free up creativity, lower heart rate and blood pressure, and boost the immune system to accelerate recovery from illness. It also supports positive social interaction and physical health and creates environmental consciousness. Being in nature gives us a sense of calm, but it’s also a great way to reconnect with ourselves, our loved ones, and community. When you go into the forest and breathe fresh air, it positively impacts your body. You can relax, and your stress levels go down. You can reset and cleanse your mind, so spending time in the forest is a beautiful way to relax, unwind and rejuvenate.
Dr. K. Jayanth Murali is based at Chennai, India. One fine day, he decided to substitute smoking with running. Now an avid runner, he has never looked back since then. He has done a bunch of marathons and half marathons over the years. When he is not working, he is usually running or helping people discover the endorphins of endurance.
