COME HOME TO NATURE

What a delight it is to go for a stroll in nature and immerse in the sights, sounds, and smells of the green lungs. Well, that is Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) for you. In Japan, it is a cornerstone for prevention as well as healing. When you immerse in nature and savour it, the stress levels decline, and the immune system gets a push soothing the frayed nerves on the way. 

“The best way to deal with stress at work is to go for a forest bath. I go for shinrin-yoku every lunchtime. You don’t need a forest; any small green space will do. Leave your cup of coffee and your phone behind and just walk slowly. You don’t need to exercise, you just need to open your senses to nature. It will improve your mood, reduce tension and anxiety, and help you focus and concentrate for the rest of the day.” Dr. Qing Li, a pioneer and a president of the Japanese Science of Forest Medicine who has studied forest bathing for thirty years.

Our modern work and home environment stress us, and a walk amongst the pure air of the trees clear our heads from the information overload. The release of phytoncides, a plant antibiotic, from the trees lowers blood pressure, and the cortisol levels come down too. You return rejuvenated, the creative juices ready to be tapped. The greens radiate our chi and strengthen our nervous system.  Patients in hospitals exposed to greener views recover faster with fewer painkillers. 

Just take some time off to go for a walk, watch the penetrating sunlight playing hide and seek with the leaves, hear the bird song, feel the soft grass under your feet. Leave behind your camera or phone, wander and immerse in the experience. Do stop from time to observe the wonders of nature and observe how their behaviour change with your presence. 

If we introduce young children to nature, the bond is everlasting. They learn to care, protect and understand it better.

Meditating amongst the trees is nirvana. The experience lowers the stress and anxiety levels, washing off the fatigue of the busy life. In the depths of greenery, the heightened sensory awareness is the beginning of self-discovery. Walking mindfully around a park full of trees gives me a profound sense of peace, and I feel at home among the trees. 

In Japan, forest bathing is successful preventive health care that started way back in the 1980s has caught with the rest of the world though at a nascent stage in India. Years of research in Japan have found a reduction in stress, improvement in sleep leading to a healthy lifestyle. The effects are similar to meditation. 

Shortage of time in the daytime should not scare you to venture out in the dark. During an after-dinner walk in a nearby park where the air is full of earthy scent, the rustle of the leaves, and the wind caressing your face as you discover a new world at your doorstep. 

Pandemic has already shaken up our routines and has affected mental health. Just take a deep breath, drop your shoulders and enjoy the feeling of being outdoors to hear the whispers of our soul. Just sitting under the trees open the energy channels and makes you feel safe and peaceful, soothing the frayed nerves. The simple yet powerful experience has no goal but to see, hear, breathe and feel the wonders of nature. You will experience the ever-changing magic of the green if you have patience, curiosity, and a sense of wonder.