Hello Forest bathers,
Welcome to Shinrin-yoku. Forest bathing is the practice of emerging yourself into the forest and allowing nature to enter your body. All five senses are focused on. Each individually throughout the course of this journey. We start with some light breathing to help us clear our mind from outside influences and instead, be present. After some like breathing, and one or two standing yoga poses, we’ll begin our journey. Throughout our walk I may pause the group so that we may all focus on one of the five senses. It is purposeful to close our eyes during these pauses, breathing and then re-Opening our eyes.
Why Forest Bathing
Making time to be at one with nature can have a positive impact on our health. Many studies have shown that forest bathing for just two hours has major benefits to our health.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17903349
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27493670
Since Shinrin-yoku’s inception, researchers have spent millions of dollars testing its efficacy. The scientifically-proven benefits of Shinrin-yoku include:
- Boosted immune system functioning, with an increase in the count of the body’s Natural Killer (NK) cells
- Reduced Blood Pressure
- Reduced stress
- Improved mood
- Increased ability to focus
- Accelerated recovery from surgery of illness
- Increased energy level
- Improved sleep
“Everybody needs beauty...
places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike.”