Everything You Need To Know About Forest Bathing

I'll admit, I was skeptical. As an avid hiker and lover of the outdoors, I enjoy adrenaline-pumping activities. I've hiked the Inca Trail in Peru, traversed Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile, and rafted the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Plus, there's sky diving, hang gliding, bungee jumping, and scuba diving — activities I've done all over the world. 

So, I wasn't sure if forest bathing was my thing. I had a strange notion that it involved walking naked in the forest (the word "bathing" usually means sans clothes). 

"If you walk slowly in the forest and really notice what's around you, that's forest bathing," said my guide Junichi Aida, who has been leading hikes in Yakushima's forest in Japan for over 27 years. 

The term forest bathing, known as shinrin-yoku in Japanese, was coined in the 1980s. The concept was a response to Japan's technological revolution — shinrin-yoku provided an antidote to the high-octane lifestyle that was replacing a traditionally nature-oriented society. 

So what is forest bathing? Aida explains it's quite simple. It's being in nature and tuning in to the sounds, smells, sights, and energy of your surroundings. It's being present and mindful as you "bathe" in the forest. 

Forest bathing has become a vital part of healthcare in Japan. Aida notes that studies have shown that forest bathing improves sleep, mood, and the ability to focus, and that it lowers stress levels. Chronic stress, as many of us know, can contribute to a plethora of conditions including anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and lowered immune response. 

Spending time in nature, away from our gadgets, improves both our physical and mental health by reducing the effects of stress on our bodies. Prescribed forest bathing in Japan has led to a healthier lifestyle for people of all ages.

I remained skeptical. What I love most about being outdoors is the physical aspect — feeling my muscles tired but exhilarated, having a sense of success and accomplishment. Forest bathing, on the other hand, sounded like a more mental exercise.