SHINRIN-YOKU: A THERAPEUTIC ARBOREAL PAST-TIME
How about trying a little eco-therapy to keep your sanity during the coming months when SAD (seasonal affective disorder) can be at its most winterly ferocious? Preventative measures must be put into place so as to not sink down into the dumps of darkness. The act of forest-bathing is a very simple yet enlightening concept that can indeed be practiced throughout the course of the four seasons. Shinrin-yoku is a Japanese term that translates simply to “taking in the forest atmosphere”. Instructions on achieving this do not require the intensity of disappearing to a zen monastery to master the art form, just a nice stroll through your local neck of the woods for a day, a week, an afternoon, or a few hours should do the trick…. As long as you are present amidst a living forest you can reap the health benefits of shinrin-yoku without cutting too greatly into your daily routine.
Reminder: keep it simple. “Go to a forest. Walk slowly. Breathe. Open all your senses.” (righteous words from the sages over at shinrin-yoku.org)
Research has established scientific fact regarding the rejuvenation and serene sense of calm a body can absorb from a living forest. Trees release organic compounds that our natural killer cells (think immune system) just eat right up. In a somatic sense other little healthful tidbits include: lowered blood pressure, solid sleep giving rise to better focus and mental clarity, and all around more ease in coping with both the monotony and over-excitement of day-to-day stresses during these times we live in by empowering us with the ability to down regulate the nervous system, lowering that high-strung cortisol and uplifting the mood.
Sensory immersion in a forest can be a naturally healing pastime, it allows for a satisfying grounding within yourself and your reality. What better prescription for good health is there than a walk in the woods? Practice presence and absorb your surroundings in order to experience that moment of still-point where you become attuned to your own true conscious awareness; the ultimate mind-body-earth connection.