Shinrin-yoku: Japanese art of forest bathing
I found myself in the Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden yesterday, quite by accident, after having some time to kill in Rockford, IL. What started out as an unplanned journey turned out to be the highlight of the day. Walking through the garden trails, shaded by trees, reminded me of the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing.
Shinrin-yoku is a brief, relaxing visit to a forest during which essential oils from the trees are inhaled. It was even advocated as part of a healthy lifestyle by the Japanese Forest Agency as early as in 1982.
Studies have proved the beneficial effects of nature on human health. A 2017 systematic review, summarizing evidence of the link between forest exposure and human health, concluded:
“The results demonstrated that forest bathing activities might have the following merits: remarkably improving cardiovascular function, hemodynamic indexes, neuroendocrine indexes, metabolic indexes, immunity and inflammatory indexes, antioxidant indexes, and electrophysiological indexes; significantly enhancing people’s emotional state, attitude, and feelings towards things, physical and psychological recovery, and adaptive behaviors; and obvious alleviation of anxiety and depression.”
When I asked my husband about it, he said shinrin-yoku is a common and well-known term. It was influenced by Shinto philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of connecting with nature as a way of spiritual development. As a result, shinto shrines, known as jinja, are frequently found in the woods. Indeed, I recall how visiting a little and modest Maioka jinja in the woods of Yokohama was a very different experience compared to the churches emanating magnificence and wealth that I’m used to seeing.
Spending some time in the woods allowed me to forget about all the worries on my mind for a bit. After all, being in nature helps us to step back, and I was happy to just be present. Going to the forest is also a nostalgic experience for me because it was very common when I was a child growing up in the countryside, although I wouldn't have considered it a spiritual retreat at the time. In the woods, I feel disconnected from the outside world, surrounded by a silence that I miss in my everyday life. Even when it is interrupted, it is due to the rustling of leaves above or the singing of birds. Wherever you are, I hope you will find time soon to enjoy a short trip to the forest and experiece its soothening effect, both on your mind and on your soul.
