My greatest sensations and internal peace has come from my engagement in nature. From the days when I was a child living in Okinawa or in the Ozarks or even in the woods in Maryland, each area of nature has served to heal me when I needed it to. I simply loved it then and love it even more now.
The city has its good points in that it provides jobs and living quarters. Outside of that, we’ve lost touch with what nature provides all the time. What mankind builds, it takes away from what life is meant to be. Stress is running rampant and obesity is ever growing in today’s world. Too many people have lost touch of living in the moment and are more engaged in living with electronic devices. I have to admit that I’ve gotten lost in that way too.
Now it’s time to make changes for all of us. It’s time to get back we once had as beings on this planet and invite nature into our lives.
While we seek the expertise of therapists in an urban environment, nothing beats the therapy that nature provides. In 1982, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries came up with a new/old concept called Shinrin-yoku or “Forest Bathing” (Park, 2010). The Park 2010 study showed that simply going into a forest helped to lower blood pressure, lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels, lower pulse rate, increase parasympathetic nervous system and lower sympathetic nervous system. It simply make one much healthier with lower stress response.
Visiting a forest also helps to increase the human immune function and anti-cancer proteins (Li, et. al., 2008 and Li, 2010). This lasted for 7 days after the trip according to the Li, 2008 and 2010 studies.
Not only does forest bathing help physically, it also helps psychologically and emotionally (Takayama, et. al., 2014). The Takayama study discovered that feelings of vigor and vitality were increased in the forest environment versus a city one. People who participated in the forest walks felt much more positive as well.
Now that science has shown the importance of putting yourself into nature as much as possible, it’s time to start doing that. Here are some suggestions that can help get you started…
- If you live in a city, find a nature park or nature walk in your area. Here in the Los Angeles area there are many places to go to. For example, an arboretum can be a start. I’ve gone to Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, CA several times. It’s 160 acres and a good escape.
- Take a trip to a national forest. This can be a once or twice a year event. Even if it’s just for a weekend, get away from the city and enjoy the walks/hikes/exploring of nature.
- Take to a hiking trail close to you. You’ll get some good exercise and help the rest of you too.
- When you’re in nature, make sure to engage with it using all of your five senses. Learn to stay in the moment and take in all that is there.
- Turn off technology in order to turn on the moments of nature. Electronic devices are distracting. And please, don’t try to capture the moments with your camera. Simply enjoy being there.
- Make sure to get some training in first aid, especially the kind that deals with the wild. One thing I learned in the Marines is to be prepared, even if you’re enjoying the moment.
- Carry enough supplies to get you through each day (and even some extras). Again, be prepared.
- Know your environment and any dangers presented. This is the 3rd of the being prepared tips.
- Have fun!
Shinrin-yoku should be part of your life. When you use this type of meditation provided by nature, you’re going to reap the benefits in so many ways and so will those around you. Think of it like “The Butterfly Effect.” The little that you do for yourself that is positive may eventually spread the same to many more.
I wish you much health, happiness and peace.
Cheers,
Bob Choat, “Transformational Master Black Belt” 
America’s #1 Mind-Body Transformation Expert and author of Mind Your Own Fitness
References:
Qing Li, et. al. “Visiting a forest, but not a city, increases human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins.” International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology 21 (2008) 117-127. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18336737
Qing Li “Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function.” Environment Health and Preventative Medicine 15 (2010) 9-17. DOI 10.1007/s12199-008-0068-3
Bum Jin Park, et. al. “The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan.” Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 15 (2010) 18-26. DOI 10.1007/s12199-009-0086-9
Norimasa Takayama, et. al. “Emotional, Restorative and Vitalizing Effects of Forest and Urban Environments at Four Sites in Japan.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 11 (2014) 7207-7230. doi:10.3390/ijerph110707207
