Hi lovely Mood Jockey!
I’m thrilled to share this guest blog – written by my Sunshine Squad friend Suzi Minor – with you! Suzi is an author and as a nature therapy guide she also facilitates Forest Bathing sessions. Suzi has a very strong connection with nature and urges us to make sure that we spend quality time in nature. It may change your life!
In the Mood for Forest Bathing
Shinrin-Yoku is a Japanese practice that was established in the 1980’s. Shinrin-Yoku translates to “forest bathing” or immersing in the atmosphere of the forest. Through a series of invitations this practice encourages participants to slow down and tap more fully into their senses. This is the beginning of sensory immersion into the natural world, which allows a quiet state of being to take root, creating a deeper connection with nature.
By engaging each of the senses more purposefully, we begin to silence the noise of the outside world that tends to keep us distracted. These invitations allow us to become more present into place. The practice begins by coming together as a group while the guide offers an invitation for the participants to take part in, then each person sets out on their own slow mindful path into the forest, until the guide calls them back to join in a shared reflection about their experience.
Research and scientific studies support positive health benefits that can result from forest immersion. Exposure to wood essential oils, called phytoncides, which are a chemical released by certain plants to protect them from disease, have proven to be a vital component to increasing natural killer cells in our own bodies, additional studies have shown that nature immersion can decrease blood pressure and cortisol levels thereby reducing stress.
This practice is more than a passing trend, it has gained popularity among wellness facilities, resorts, botanical gardens, and supported by health practitioners. We all know that just being out in in Nature relaxes us, calms anxiety, and overall, makes us feel good. If there was ever a more crucial time to decompress and disconnect from the digital world, it is now. Reconnecting with Nature brings us into presence, dissolves the constant need to busy our minds, and invites us to expand our awareness of ourselves and our surroundings.
Whether you enjoy a forest bathing session by yourself or within a group setting, you’ll walk away with an appreciation of your inherent connection to the natural world, you’ll discover insights of shared community, and garner a greater understanding of your place and offering to the world. There’s no question you’ll leave in a better mood!
Lot’s of love,
