Shinrin-Yoku - Forest Bathing
Nature-Immersive Full-Sensory Experience

Hint:  It's not about skinny-dipping! Clothing is required.

It is a Nature-immersive, full-sensory experience for overall health that also delights the soul. For those who feel overwhelmed, fatigued, burned out, stressed, depressed, or anxious, are recovering from illness, want to improve focus and balance, and foster feelings of deep rest, creativity, and equanimity, Forest Bathing offers research-based therapeutic benefits.

Whether working with clients in a professional coaching capacity or facilitating retreats for "composting" their vocational aspirations, we offer Shinrin-Yoku regularly, and it has been the single most requested and re-requested service we offer.

Why is it called "Forest Bathing?" It's all about absorbing the health benefits of Nature, and soaking in its beauty and healing properties. The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries coined the term "Shinrin-Yoku," or "Forest Bathing," in the 1990s, but the practice of Nature immersion for calming the mind, focusing, restoring health and equanimity is quite ancient. It finds antecedents in the 5th c. B.C.E. forest Sangha, who cultivated mindfulness in Nature's embrace and lived as nomads seeking Enlightenment.

How does it work? It takes place in a nearby park, nature preserve, community garden, urban forest, grove of trees, reflection pool, or even some potted plants or trees, flowing water, a fresh fruit stand, anywhere that Nature is accessible and inviting. We pay attention to which aspects of Nature draw us in, and why.  Then we become still.

We begin by centering/grounding ourselves, becoming aware of our breath, and then focusing on each sense in succession, building to the sixth sense - our ability to integrate our five bodily senses and "read the room" of Nature's presence in our particular locale and bioregion. It's a practice, a discipline, an acquired skill that can be honed every day.  Many who try the practice return to it daily because the experience is both grounding and generative.

Why should we practice it? Forest Bathing is healing for body and mind. Nature's benefits are well-documented and broad in scope. Reduced heart rate, blood pressure, stress cortisol, and mental fatigue, and increased capacity for respiration, balance, focus, resiliency, support for the central nervous and immune systems, especially phytoncides for natural killer (NK) cells, are among the positive effects.

For focus and paying attention, Nature provides an excellent opportunity to exercise involuntary (vs. voluntary) attention.

How does this work? A walk outside attunes our senses to welcome spontaneity - birdsong, chipmunk and squirrel chitter, the rustling of leaves, shade and sun shifts, color, natural fragrances, and stark or inviting textures that capture our attention. Involuntary attention means we are aware of our surroundings, with heightened sensory perception, without preparing to react. Because we can simply be present with our full sensorium, "Attention Restoration" occurs. Attention Restoration is an opportunity to recharge our over-stimulated, hyperactive minds, and is found to be beneficial to those struggling with Adult Hyperactivity Attention Deficit or recovering from Social Media Dependence. In other words, almost everyone could be helped by this practice, and it's available to us every single day.  Reach out and let's give it a try!