ITS CALLED SHINRIN-YOKU

Predictions suggest by 2050, 66% of the worlds population is projected to live in cities. That means there will be plenty of space for us adventurous type.

If you’re reading this you’re probably that guy or girl already planning that weekend escape. But according to studies some of us are now spending 80% to 90% of time indoors. From home, driving in our car, the office then off to the bar. So, maybe it’s time we all made a little more effort to get back to where it all began, nature.

In Japan, they practice something called shinrin-yoku. Shinrin in Japanese means “forest,” and yoku means “bath.” So shinrin-yoku means bathing in the forest atmosphere or taking in the forest through our senses. In short, forest bathing

It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. The Japanese say Shinrin-yoku is like a bridge. By opening our senses, it bridges the gap between us and the natural world.

It’s a fancy way of describing a walk through the wilderness. But there are many different activities you can do in the wilderness that will help you to relax and to connect with nature. Like others who connect with nature you could try: hiking, yoga, hot-spring therapy, T’ai chi, meditation, breathing exercises, aromatherapy, snow shoeing and, hey, why not some plant observation. It doesn’t matter how fit – or unfit – you are. 

Shinrin-yoku is simply making the most of all that natural space out there and there is plenty of it.

So, take a deep breath and go!

tscudo