Forest Bathing

Forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku, is a practice that involves immersing oneself in the forest atmosphere and taking in the natural environment through the senses. It is not exercise or hiking, but a way to slow down, unplug, and fully connect with nature. Forest bathing has been scientifically proven to have numerous benefits for physical and psychological well-being. To practice forest bathing, find a peaceful outdoor environment, set an intention to have no objective, slow down, and explore your senses. Observe the sights, sounds, and smells of nature without judgment. You can also try walking barefoot to experience grounding and connect with the earth. The goal is to be fully present and engaged in the experience. Forest bathing can be a powerful way to reconnect with nature and improve overall well-being. Hello. Today, I'll be introducing you to a practice called forest bathing. Back in the 80s, burnout was booming, much as it is today. Ching-Li coined shinrin-yoku, a physical and psychological exercise that was used as an eco-antidote to disengagement in Japan. Shinrin-yoku is translated into forest bathing in English. Shinrin in Japanese means forest and yoku means bath. Therefore, shinrin-yoku means bathing in the forest atmosphere or taking in the forest through our senses. This is not exercise or hiking or jogging. Despite being strange to Western observers, shinrin-yoku now has a solid scientific evidence base, and you'll soon have your own personal experience to reinforce that for yourself. As you'll soon discover, forest bathing is a wonderful wellness stacking activity. The benefits compound on one another. You'll be fully present, walking in nature, slowing down, unplugging, and breathing in natural essence. Each of these practices has their own merit, but when you bring them together, the benefits abound. So let's go. First, we need to consider the destination. Where will you do forest bathing? You can choose a park or nature reserve that's peaceful and undeveloped as possible. But also don't worry if the nearest outdoor environment isn't a park. Anything outdoors in nature will do. Even on a busy sidewalk, there's nature all around. If you'd like guidance, bring this recording along with you and perhaps a comfortable set of headphones. If you would prefer to do this without guidance, here are the simplified instructions. Go to nature. Set an intention to have no objective. Slow down. Explore your senses. Smell. Listen. See. Connect. Wander and observe. And observe silence. That's it. And if you prefer guidance, simply go to your preferred nature reserve, and when you're ready, hit play. Now, as you prepare to do this forest bathing practice, consider leaving thoughts of to-do lists and why they did this to-me list at the door. Begin by walking in silence. Inhaling deeply, letting the fresh air fill your lungs as your belly expands. Exhale and notice as you let the sounds of the world come to you. Birds singing, rustling leaves, the distant hum of nature or traffic, a symphony unlike any found indoors. Slow down. Breathe deeply. Take your usual walking pace and gently have it. Just slow down even further. Feel the earth beneath your feet, the air on your skin. We are all creatures of nature, and disconnection from it can take a toll. Our days are generally spent combined by walls. We live indoors, work indoors, exercise indoors, and socialize indoors. We may be likely suffering from a nature deficit. Because we are creatures from nature, disconnection from it can leave us depleted. Just as a plant withers without sunlight, so too can our spirits falter when confined within walls. Our senses grow dull, our focus wanders, and our inner well-being diminishes. Take another nice long inhale and exhale. And let the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural world revitalize you. As we reconnect with our original home, Mother Nature, the forest, the mountains, the beach, whatever natural space you find yourself in, allow this connection to nourish your soul. Another nice long inhale and exhale. Soften your gaze. Allow your peripheral vision to expand, taking in a wider panorama of the scene before you. Without focusing on any single point, let your eyes drink in the details, the colors and textures of the bark, the dance of leaves in the breeze, the vibrant tapestry of color. Resist the urge to label what you see. There's no need to say tree or flower in your mind. Instead, cultivate a spacious awareness within yourself. As you imagine a vast inner landscape where all these sights find a place, simply observed without judgment, with curiosity. Open yourself fully to this experience, letting the world unfold before your spacious witnessing presence. Just see. Ah. Are there any sounds? Approach the sounds around you with fresh ears. Let each rustle, chirp, and murmur hold a sense of novelty. Embrace all the auditory experiences without resistance, even the quiet hum of your own thoughts. Now expand your listening beyond your ears. Imagine your entire body becoming a giant receptive surface. Feel the vibrations of distant traffic in your feet, the chirping of birds tingling in your fingertips. Let the symphony of the world resonate through you, a truly immersive listening experience. Just listen. Ah. Notice any smells? Our sense of smell holds a powerful intimacy with the world. Each inhalation isn't just an exchange of air, but a symphony of information. Fragrances, microscopic particles, even plant chemicals carried on the breeze, we're constantly chemo-detecting our environment. Think of your breath as a bridge, a constant exchange between you and the world. With each inhale, receive the subtle messages carried on the air. Is there the crisp tang of pine needles, the sweetness of blooming flowers, or perhaps the earthy aroma of damp soil? As you exhale, imagine offering something in return. Perhaps it's a gentle breath of appreciation for the beauty that surrounds you, or a silent thank you for the life-giving air. Notice the cycle, the constant receiving and giving, the dance between you and the environment. Just smell. Ah. Next is a fun one for the brave and the adventurous. If you find yourself in a safe, comfortable space, consider removing your shoes and socks. Grounding yourself barefoot can be a powerful sensory experience. Recent studies, as discussed in Science Direct, even suggest potential health benefits to incorporating barefoot walking into your daily routine. However, feel free to listen to your body's comfort level. If keeping your footwear on feels better, that's perfectly acceptable. The key is to be present and engaged in the experience. And many attest to the benefits of barefoot walking, a.k.a. grounding, also known as earthing. It can reduce inflammation, pain, and stress. It also improves blood flow, sleep, and a sense of vitality. So consider connecting with the earth, whether through your feet or any outer layer of our skin suit. Drop in. Feeling. Being in our senses. Rest in our senses. As we walk, it feels that we're walking on the earth. But perhaps the earth is walking right back on us. In fact, you may be walking on one of the largest organisms on the planet. The fungus, the mycelium, connecting everything. Maybe even connecting better than the internet. And some would say the planet itself has a pulse. Through our good souls, just allow ourselves to connect with what's under our feet. Just walking. The speed that you're moving has an inverse relationship with your depth of awareness. So slow, slow, and slow down again. Effortless walking. Feeling in. Relax. Notice the subtle sensations flooding your awareness. There's always a gentle current of information tingling through your body. A constant stream of data carried by your nervous system. Scientists estimate we receive around 2 million bits of data every second. How many of them can you be aware of? Next, see if something around you draws your attention in and wants to be touched. Place your hands on a tree, on the earth, or maybe a stone. Each molecule made of atoms vibrating with frequency. Perhaps vibrating with life. Just other forms of energy, just like you. As you connect with this other energy, notice the way you feel. We're interacting with something outside of ourselves, but we experience it inside. What an incredible sensory experience. Now take a moment to send a smile and a thank you to all of your cells. Let them feel the warmth of your appreciation. This gift of life not to be missed. All right, family, friends, or famians, as we affectionately say, it's time for me to leave you to continue walking on your own. An old Shinto saying says, if one can endure the trail, they will be richly rewarded with the gift of divine happiness. Wishes will be granted along with good health and prosperity. My wish for you is that you may search for, find, practice, and create peace and happiness for yourselves and those around you, and work to maintain it. If getting outside has positively shifted something inside you today, how would you think you could incorporate more nature into your everyday experience? Happy bathing to you. Thank you for practicing. From Camp Happy, this is your famian, Joseph Krosky. Make it a good moment.