CAN A WALK IN THE WOODS KEEP YOU WELL?

In Asian cultures, especially in Japan where Shintoism is the majority religion, forests are believed to possess special healing powers. In Japan the practice of shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing”) arose in the 1980s as a way of inspiring the Japanese to reconnect with the country’s forests and protect them, and a decade later scientists began studying its benefits. Their conclusion: The time we spend in nature is good for us as an antidote to stress and the illnesses it can cause. Shinrin-yoku is nothing more than taking a leisurely stroll through the woods while relaxing and letting your senses guide you and being fully present as you allow yourself to perceive your surroundings with all of your senses. The movement has grown since its inception, and in 2012 the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) was founded to train guides in the practice. According to the ANFT, the health benefits include a boost in immune function, improved cardiovascular and respiratory health, a revitalization of attention and focus, and a reduction in stress and depression. This mindfulness exercise might seem esoteric, but Chinese research has shown it has a strong health-promoting effect on people whose health is classified as “suboptimal,” i.e., the state between healthy and sick that may be marked by a wide variety of complaints that often can’t be traced back to a specific illness, such as tiredness, forgetfulness, and a sore throat. Such individuals may not be ill, but they could soon be because the immune system is weakened in this state. Various studies show the body only needs a few minutes in the forest to dispel these symptoms. During that time cortisol levels and blood pressure drop significantly and the parasympathetic nervous system— the part of the nervous system that is responsible for relaxation—is stimulated. A single walk in the forest reduces stress and bolsters the immune system for days.