Forest Bathing

As I was doing my morning walk and listening to the radio, they were talking about something called "forest bathing", which I'd never heard before.  It seems that it was developed in Japan in the early 1980's to help people to connect with nature and thus reduce stress levels and give people an overall better sense of health. Then I noticed that there were other articles about it, such as in Mother Earth News . 
It seems there has been a lot of research done on the effects.

Well, I had not done any research on it, but I do know how I have felt through the years when being out in nature.

When I used to backpack in national parks, I remember how I would wake up each morning, feeling stronger than I did the day before. It was like I was drawing energy from the earth by sleeping on the ground.

I remember the first time I went to the Amazon. Sure, I immediately noticed the difference from where I live in suburban Texas - the huge variety of trees and sounds.  But I think it actually took a couple of days before I actually felt like I was getting into the "rhythm" of the jungle - before I actually felt like I was part of it, rather than someone observing it. Then I was able to notice and appreciate all of the little things that were going on in the environment, instead of just being overwhelmed by a mass of green forest.

One day, when I was hiking in Lost Maples State Park, I noticed that I would see an animal scamper off with almost every step I took - a rabbit, an armadillo, a lizard, a deer. I started thinking about all of the kids in big cities who never see anything like that. They see their tv or phone or computer screens and kind of live a virtual reality life. Just think what it must feel like for them to go to a park or nature reserve and experience nature all around them! And then take that a step further and imagine what they would feel like if they had a world-class nature experience in the Amazon or Pantanal or Galapagos

And it's not just about seeing plants and animals. It's about the feeling of being grounded and connected - like you're actually part of the world and not someone different and alone. The therapeutic effects of what being out in nature can do for "troubled" people are well documented.

Part of the deal about "forest bathing" is being mindful about the nature that is around you, so there are actually coaches who can help you to get into the proper state, like meditation coaches, so that you can appreciate it more. I'm all for appreciating nature. I say travel around so that you can see it in all of it's beautiful forms