What is forest bathing?

Now that Jack Frost kicked my vegetables and herbs to the curb, how and where am I going to get my people-plant therapy? I have house plants, like most folks, but they become to resemble furniture that require dusting and other regular maintenance. They don’t bring me the same joy as growing edibles.

Maybe I need to try the Japanese tradition of forest bathing. Are you picturing a tub in the woods with steamy, bubbly water for you to soak in? That sounds nice, but not exactly what they mean by forest bathing.

According to Washington State University, shinrin-yoku or forest bathing is a new fitness trend here in the United States, but began in Japan in the 1980s. Research has shown that spending time in nature reduces cortisol, a stress hormone. Long term stress has been “associated with increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, weight gain, deterioration of cognitive functions”. http://ext100.wsu.edu/gardentips/2016/10/24/forest-bathing-as-a-garden-trend/.

The National Institute of Health has an interesting article on forest bathing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793341/. The author states forest bathing is similar to aromatherapy. When we visit a forest, we are breathing in compounds called phytoncides from the trees. These essential oils have antibacterial and antifungal qualities which help plants fight disease and protect themselves from insects. Human benefits from breathing in these invisible scents include improved immune system function, as well as decreased anxiety, depression and anger.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation noted that people are multi-tasking more than ever and this inability to focus on one thing at a time drains us mentally. This is called Directed Attention Fatigue. Spending time in nature “gives the cognitive portion of our brain a break, allowing us to focus better and renew our ability to be patient”. http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/90720.html.

How do you do forest bathing? M. Amos Clifford, author of A Little Handbook of Shinrin-Yoku, suggests simply wandering around in the woods taking in all the sensory experiences around you.

Since I enjoy macrophotography, I am often looking for small details to photograph. It’s like a treasure hunt for me. I walk slowly and breathe deeply. I try to notice everything around me. I engage my senses – what do I hear, smell or see? And, I always hug a tree or two.

You know, I think I feel more relaxed just imagining I am in the mountains walking down a quiet path with sunlight filtering through the trees. How about you? Are you ready to bathe in the forest?

Kelley Rawlsky has an M.S. in horticulture and is the director of Bringing People and Plants Together, an organization dedicated to bringing horticulture education and therapy to the community. For more information: PeopleAndPlantsTogether@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook.

Article originally published in Broomfield Enterprise - Oct 15, 2017. http://www.broomfieldenterprise.com/news/ci_31374169/what-is-forest-bathing