Forest or Nature Therapy is an emerging global movement in the health and wellness fields that, in its simplest form, means immersing oneself in the natural world for a deeper connection to our inner selves and the planet we call home.
The term Forest Therapy or Shrinrin Yoku, (Forest Bathing or taking in the forest atmosphere) emerged in Japan in the 1980s. Its purpose was to relieve the tech- boom burnout that occurred as many moved from rural lands to a city life with indoor jobs and became overly stressed, depressed, and ill. The idea was for the government to research the health benefits of being in nature, predominately in the forest.
This research was twofold, serving another valuable purpose: to promote interest in the protection and value of the country’s vast forests. With logging on the decline, shifting focus to the health benefits that the forests could offer proved to be a win-win situation.
In the 1990s, researchers began actively studying the physiological, psychological, and psycho-spiritual benefits of forest bathing, providing scientific evidence for what we already know: being in nature is good for us on many levels. This mindfulness practice in nature proved as hoped, reducing stress, elevating mood, and decreasing physiological complaints.
This research began to expand across other countries, bringing back what many cultures have long revered: that a healthy relationship with the natural world is a crucial part of human health and well-being.
Today, in the Western world, Forest Therapy and Nature Therapy are often used interchangeably and have become increasingly popular in a culture that seems to be searching for a missing link in our identity.
It is my hope that by bringing this practice more fully to life in our world, we will develop a stronger love for our planet while mindfully returning home to our true nature.
