WALKING IN THE WOODS

It is clear that our bodies still recognize nature as our home Yoshifumi Miyazaki Forest bathing or shinrin yoku is a way of walking in the woods that was developed in Japan in the 1980s It brings together ancient ways and wisdom with cutting edge environmental health science Simply put forest bathing is the practice of walking slowly through the woods in no hurry for a morning an afternoon or a day It is a practice that involves all the senses and as you gently walk and breathe deeply the essential oils of the trees are absorbed by your body and have an extraordinary effect on positive feelings stress hormone levels parasympathetic nervous activity sympathetic nervous activity blood pressure heart rate and brain activity In this wonderful book by the leading expert in the field science meets nature as we are encouraged to bathe in the trees and become observers of both the environment around us and the goings on of our own minds