Forest Bathing to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Shinrin-yoku.  That's what the Japanese call Forest Bathing.  It's a practice of immersing oneself in nature (especially forests), and the reason it is so helpful for stress is because it is a mindfulness practice that has a direct impact on all the various anxiety responses that get triggered in the human body during stress.

In any forest you will find a unique ecosystem made up of trees, animals, and other living plants and organisms that may vary depending on where you are at on the planet.  It's a complete interconnected system of dense trees, water, and air that creates an atmosphere of quiet relaxation.

One of the most noticeable things about Forest Bathing is that it speaks directly to the senses.  From the soft gentle lighting that is created by the tree coverage, to the sound of running streams, birds, and other living creatures that inhabit most of these environments.  In your every breath you can taste and inhale the wooded smells of the surrounding area.  It's an earthy smell of pine, moss, plants, flowers, and damp soil.  Usually the dense trees create a muffling of sound which makes time in the forest nice and quiet, with the right combination of gentle noises that feel accepting (and familiar) to the human body.  

The greenery from the combination of trees, plants, wood and soil in most forests is welcoming to the eyes as it creates a view that is not too bright and not too dark.  And the softness of the moss and aged leaves on most forest floors creates a gentle massage on one's feet when walking over the trails and paths.  There isn't too much in these environments that the human body doesn't like and so it feels welcoming and is an environment our bodies can relate to.

Scientifically, the proof supports the feeling that Forest Bathing brings.  According to Dr Qing Li, who is considered to be the foremost expert on Forest Bathing or "forest medicine," there are many medical benefits from practicing Forest Bathing.  Including, strengthening the immune system, lowering blood pressure, lowering levels of depression, anxiety and stress, reducing fatigue, lowering levels of cortisol steroids in the system (the stress hormone), and increasing a sense of mental focus (mindfulness).

Forest Bathing is one of the most affordable kinds of stress-reduction therapy you will ever find.  It's reachable and manageable for many and talks to that part of us that knows we are a part of nature.  If you are looking for ideas about how you can get back into nature, you can find my earlier blog entry here about ways to get out and get connected with the great outdoors.  There is no time like the present to submerge yourself in the relaxing practice of Forest Bathing.

"Go out in the forest, go out.  If you don't go out in the woods nothing will ever happen and your life will never begin."     ~Clarrisa Pinkola Estes

Thanks to Jan Hazevoet for the great photos, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Relaxing with Color

The colors you choose to surround yourself with--matter, especially when it comes to stress management and relaxation.

It is generally believed that the color Blue has a healing and tranquil nature to it, and that the color Green brings to mind the elements of nature, such as relaxing forests and gardens.   Some believe that olive green is the universal color of Peace.

Humans have associated good and bad things with particular colors.  Therefore, we relax when around colors that are associated with calm places and things (like the sky or ocean), and we may feel tense when around colors that are associated with discomfort (like heat, pain, or sadness).

Psychologically, we've managed to assign various moods and feelings to colors, but your personal experiences will define for you what colors feel calming and relaxing, and what colors are a turn-off.  In other words, not only does color have an effect on mood and feelings, but history and life events affect our perception of color.

In the practice of Feng Shui, colors may also be related to elements, such as Earth, Air, Fire, Water, etc.  When decorating a room for relaxation, it may be helpful to reference some of the material from this area of study in order to include colors that bring a well-balanced natural energy to a room.

Lucky for us, there has been a lot of information generated about color, color perception, and the effects of color on mood, so we are probably safe in believing some of these very interesting findings and areas of study.

When you are ready to set up your relaxing space or meditation area, consider including an investigation into your personal color preferences.  Be sure that the special places you select or create feel right to you and have the relaxing look and mood you want.


Thanks to Felix M for the great photo - Playing GOD

Back to Nature: Balancing Our Stress Level with Mother Earth

The Taoists teach that humans must come to understand that they are a part of the natural world and that living in harmony with nature brings the world and people into balance.  But as Eckart Tolle points out, humans “can no longer perceive the sacredness that is there in nature” because we are instead “living in the prison of our minds.”

Where we once slept in the forests and mountains under the stars and moon, along with all the other living beings of the planet, we now sleep in artificially heated and cooled environments, and work with artificially powered lighting, eating artificially flavored foods, and our sleep/wake cycles are controlled by the noise-pollution of our environments, as well as the thought-pollution of our racing minds. 

Evidence of this imbalance is revealed in the rising stress and anxiety levels among the people of the world.  Our need for finding balance with nature is now higher than ever, and seeking ways to get back to nature may be the very thing many of us need to bring our own levels of stress to a more manageable place.

Getting back to nature can be as simple as finding a local pond or stream to spend time by, as well as watching the wildlife that frequents these places and listening to the sounds created by the natural surroundings there.  We can break away as far as the mountains and deep forests, or as close as local hiking trails.  If all else fails, we can at least find a local park where the grass, trees and ponds—as artificial as they may be—can give us a place to pause.

Other ways to get back in touch with nature are activities such as gardening, hiking, camping, or doing something as simple as climbing a tree and feeling the bark of its trunk on your hands.  Any of these can help you reconnect with Mother Earth and the natural elements you have in common with her.

Thanks to  Nicholas A Tonelli for his great photo "White Deer Creek", a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River