The Japanese have been advocates of nature healing, developing a therapy in the 1980s known as Shinrin Yoku. Shinrin in Japanese means “forest,” and yoku means “bath.” Therefore, shinrin-yoku encompasses bathing in the forest atmosphere, or taking in the forest through our senses. There was a dual purpose of this therapy – to offer ecological therapy and to promote and protect Japan’s forests.
In the 1990s, many researchers advocated the benefits of forest bathing, reinforcing the opinion that nature heals.
Misunderstood as an exercise, forest bathing includes no hiking, no running. The first step involves leaving our digital friends, our phones, and cameras behind and embarking on a journey that promotes mindfulness and being present in the moment. Once you begin, walk around, pause from time to time to embrace the flora and fauna, listen to the birdsong, the rustling of trees, and feel the sensation of walking slowly through the forest.
Benefits of Shinrin Yoku
Forest bathing is advocated heavily as part of preventative measures in Japan. Research indicates that Shinrin Yoku improves mood levels, our focus, reduces stress levels, and improves sleep quality. With our fast-paced lives, we tend to live with stress, which in turn can lead to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Mental health diseases can eventually lead to physical problems, such as high blood pressure, loss of appetite, muscle tension, and lowered immunity.
Being in nature improves our holistic health because our cortisol levels are reduced, building focus and attention. On a spiritual level, the human-nature connection helps us refocus energy, reminding us of the things that truly matter in life and aiding us in chasing the material aspects of life.
Dharana Wellness Centre, a wellness retreat near Mumbai, focuses on holistic health, which includes physical, mental, and spiritual balance. One of the new programs introduced at our eco wellness retreat is Dharana Rasayana Retreat, which focuses on resetting your mental wellbeing through holistic methodologies such as Ayurveda, Dietetics, Exercise Physiology, and conflict resolution. As an Ayurvedic healing center in India, Dharana combines the use of an integrative, modern approach, including Modern diagnostics with traditional practices like Yoga and Ayurveda, to ensure a sustainable wellness journey.
