Managing Stress in Nature
Forest bathing as this practice is often referred to, is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku.
It can misconceived that simply going for a walk or a run can give you the same depthless that this practice offers. There are benefits of simply being around nature for definite but this practice takes you further.
It is about the relations that we create with our natural world and this includes not only the physical elements of nature but also our own self, our truth, our own nature. It gives us the chance to come home to ourselves and re acquaint ourselves with what we are born to be.
One of my favourite ways of achieving this is using the well known “sit spot” practice; which is really a practice within the practice itself. It a chance to step into this relationship and also to embrace the silent world of nature. Being still enough and quiet enough is powerful for our minds, our nervous systems and our emotions.
There have been many many studies completed that confirm the health benefits over a period of 40 years. These important research studies help to prove our innate need to share our lives with nature, as our ancestors did for approx 98% of our living time on earth.
These studies have shown how this practice supports our overall wellbeing including
Boosting our immune function
Improving cardiovascular and respirator health
Reduction in stress
Attention Restoration
Reduction in depressions and anxieties
Stress is on the increase as we all know. Forest bathing helps to increase our parasympathetic nervous system which in turn prompts our rest and digest. It conserves energy, slows down the heart rate and increases our intestinal and gland activities.
In one of the studies it showed that after a leisurely walk in woodlands there was a 12.4 percent decrease in the stress hormone cortisol in saliva and a 7 percent decrease in sympathetic nerve activity, a 1.4 percent decrease in blood pressure and a 5.8 percent decrease in heart rate.
All of these results signify that the body’s nervous system is in a state of relaxation rather than stress arousal. When we are continually in the stress arousal (sympathetic nerve activity) this can increase the risks of anxiety, depression, heart disease, weight gain as well as memory and concentration impairment. These same stress hormones can also compromise our immune defence system.
Stress has a lot to answer for in our overall health and wellbeing. Nature and Forest Bathing offers a practice that can help to normalise our nervous system and offer a way to manage these stressors rather than affecting our body, our health and our everyday lives.