Get lost in the sights and sounds of nature with forest bathing

During the Covid-19 pandemic when lockdown hit many people turned to mindfulness as a way of coping with stress and anxiety.

An increasingly popular way to do this is to experience mindfulness surrounded by nature, or forest bathing as it is often referred to as.

Forestry England describes it as a ‘Japanese practice that is a process of relaxation; known in Japan as shinrin yoku. The simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you whilst breathing deeply can help both adults and children de-stress and boost health and wellbeing in a natural way’.

It was developed in the 1980s following scientific studies conducted by the Japanese government.

The results showed that two hours of mindful exploration in a forest could reduce blood pressure, lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels and improve concentration and memory.

It also found that trees release chemicals called phytoncides, which have an anti-microbial effect on human bodies, boosting the immune system.

As a result of this research, the Japanese government introduced ‘shinrin-yoku’ as a national health programme.

It is seen as the most natural way to calm your senses by surrounding yourself with a beautiful forest setting and allowing your body and mind to destress while reconnecting with nature.

Helena Skoog was born and raised in the forests of Sweden and has been living off-grid in ancient forestry in Sussex for the past six years.