'FOREST BATHING' (A WALK IN THE WOODS) CAN BE AN ANTIDOTE TO TECH BURNOUT & INSPIRES PEOPLE TO RECONNECT & PROTECT FORESTS!
Whether you call it a fitness trend or a mindfulness practice (or a bit of both), what exactly is forest bathing? The term emerged in Japan in the 1980s as a physiological and psychological exercise called shinrin-yoku ("forest bathing" or "taking in the forest atmosphere"). The purpose was twofold: to offer an eco-antidote to tech-boom burnout and to inspire residents to reconnect with and protect the country's forests. The Japanese quickly embraced this form of ecotherapy. In the 1990s, researchers began studying the physiological benefits of forest bathing, providing the science to support what we innately know: time spent immersed in nature is good for us.
ALL TREES ARE HAPPINESS TREES
Numerous studies have demonstrated that the presence of trees in urban settings can improve mental health by reducing stress — living in areas with more green space correlates with lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. On top of that, trees and greener environments are strongly linked to reduced negative thoughts, reduced symptoms of depression, better reported moods, and increased life satisfaction. As you might imagine, doctors prescribe fewer anti-depressants in urban areas that have trees!
TREES FILTER YOUR WATER, MAKING YOUR DRINKING SUPPLY CLEANER & MORE RELIABLE
Raise a glass to a tree near you! Actually, raise your glass to trees far from you, as your water has traveled on a long journey to your faucet. Trees store and filter more than half of the water supply in the United States. Forests do this by removing pollutants and sediments from rainfall and then slowly releasing the water back into waterways and underground aquifers. Thanks to trees, this naturally cleaner water is easier and cheaper to treat before it ends up in your tap. The water supply is also steadier because all of the rainwater didn't end up in a river right away; it seeped through these natural filters over time.
GROWING THE NEXT GENERATION: THE BENEFIT OF TREES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
When you picture a calming, stress-free environment, what do you see? Most likely, you aren't envisioning pavement. Spaces with trees, grass, and other vegetation types are thought to reduce stress in many ways, from enhancing attention and encouraging physical activity and social contact, to mitigating air pollution and heat. But does the type of vegetation make a difference? Does a grassy field have the same positive associations for childhood health outcomes as a treed area? PhD candidate Ingrid Jarvis, who is part of a larger federally funded (CIHR) project called Born to be Wise, wanted to know.
TREES CAN HELP US RECOVER FROM ILLNESS
A view of trees can help hospital patients recover faster by reducing diastolic blood pressure and stress. In fact, studies have found that just 3-5 minutes spent looking at nature can help reduce anger, anxiety and pain, inducing relaxation. And as we know, stress plays a big role in our overall health and healing — and too much of it can weaken our immune system. So it should come as no surprise that time spent immersed in or even just looking at nature can help reduce recovery times for patients.
For further information
For further information on the benefits of trees visit:
One Tree Planted
Harvard School of Public Health
Health Benefits From Forests
6 Ways Trees Benefit All of Us (Nature Conservancy)
Why Trees Can Make You Happier
The Benefits of Trees
