Lately, I’ve been going to the park around the corner just before the sun starts to set to sit in the grass and watch the sunset. It’s become one of my favorite ways to end the day. Especially when it’s been a hard one.
There’s a specific place on the grass at my local park that I like to sit – right in between these two groups of trees. When the wind blows, I can hear all of the leaves rustling on both sides.
It’s such a relaxing sound.
Now that it’s cooled down a bit, in my opinion, it’s the perfect time to have forest bathing sessions. Not too hot, not too cold.
What is Forest Bathing?
The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing” is a form of ecotherapy requiring you to be in nature, engaging all of your senses, while observing and enjoying it’s healing atmosphere. Shinrin-yoku has been proven to reduce stress and blood pressure, relieve anxiety, and increase creativity and mental clarity.
Although not a recent discovery, this mindfulness practice has gained importance as technology evolves, making time in nature less of a pastime and more of a crucial priority.
What makes this practice so accessible to practically anyone is that it doesn’t require anything other than you just being. Forest bathing calls for you to be completely present, distraction free, and aware of what you see, hear, taste, touch, and smell; creating a relaxing effect that has the power to heal your body in various ways. It’s a free and natural form of therapy that we can all benefit from.
I love the word “free”.
Forest bathing IS as simple as it sounds. And because it’s SO simple, spending time in nature is easy to skip out on if it’s not considered to be a priority in your day-to-day life.
And as if it couldn’t get any more simpler…you don’t even have to be physically standing in the middle of nature to do this!
How to Forest Bathe Outdoors
- Silence your phone/leave your phone behind
- Walk slowly, don’t rush
- Breathe in deeply and exhale slowly throughout the experience
- Make a mental note of what you smell
- Look around your environment and take in the relaxing earth tones
- Observe how you are feeling
- Stop and sit/stand to ground and enjoy the stillness
- Observe any realizations that may come to mind
- Mentally or physically take note of any thoughts or emotions that may have come up during the experience that you feel are important to come back to later
Forest Bathing at Home
If you don’t have the ability to forest bathe outdoors, don’t worry. You can definitely still participate in this mindfulness practice.
- Place natural elements throughout your home such as indoor plants or flowers
- Sit or lay in the grass of your yard
- Take a seat on the front porch
- Spend time in your garden
And those who may not have natural elements nearby can simply explore the nature outside through a window. You can create a forest bathing experience that works best for you, and still reap the amazing benefits.
The Best Outdoor Spots for Nature Bathing
Here are 8 different places that you can look up in your area to visit and forest bathe!
- Botanical gardens
- Flower fields
- Parks
- Vineyards
- Bodies of water (beaches, creeks, ponds, rivers)
- Hikes
- Wilderness Parks
- National Parks
- State Parks
One of my favorite places to forest bathe is Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas, CA. Every time I’ve visited that park, I’ve walked away with a new idea or more clarity about a situation that had been on my mind. The stillness that i’ve felt there is one of the reasons why I keep going back.
Speaking of going back, I think it’s time for another trip!
No matter how or where you choose to practice forest bathing, the key is to stay present, and to use all of your senses to observe the calming and healing benefits of nature.
