A new study shed light on the ancient Japanese art of forest bathing and the many health benefits someone can experience by getting back into nature.
The positive outcomes of spending more time in nature are well documented. In the age of better mental health practices, it’s only natural that you want to equip yourself with the best possible ways to enhance your mental power. Even in a city, it’s possible, and here’s how.
More green, please
The University of Waterloo specifically looked at the effect forest bathing can have on teenagers living in built-up areas like cities. They found that natural urban spaces were related to significantly higher scores in positive outcomes.
“While the findings may not be surprising to most people, what’s significant is that for the first time, we’re able to specifically say this is how much anxiety is reduced when kids are by a park as opposed to by a city centre,” said Leia Minaker, associate professor in the School of Planning and director of the Future Cities Initiative.
The researchers found that adolescents looking at an urban lake experienced 9% less stress than usual. In contrast, their scores were 13% higher when standing in a busy downtown location for extended periods of time.
“Teens are frequently excluded from any kind of decision about the cities they live in,” Leia added. “It’s important to get their opinions and quantify their experiences because childhood experiences influence many long-term health and disease outcomes.”
How you can experience the joy of forest bathing
Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku in Japan, is an ancient custom that combines nature and mindfulness. Brooke Mellen, founder of Cultured Forest, who’s certified in Forest Medicine, highlighted the experience in conversation with The Well.
“Think of it as one-half hiking and one-half meditation — and no, there’s no nudity or water involved in this type of bathing,” she said.
The first, and most important step, is to find a large green space to immerse yourself in. Though rare in bustling cities, green spaces can include anything from a natural waterway to a sprawling park. The next step is to switch off your phone, TikTok can wait a while.
How far you want to take it is completely up to you, with some experts suggesting guided meditation and breathing exercises are a good place to start. Brooke also guided her group through activities like getting to know a tree, observing rocks, and creating art from natural materials.
“People initially think they’ve been doing this all their lives: going for a walk in the woods. But it might be a brisk walk, or you might be worrying about where the dog has got to,” The Forest Bathing Institute’s Gary Evans toldThe Gaurdian. “A better way to frame forest bathing is mindful time spent under the canopy of trees for health and wellbeing purposes.”
