I am fairly positive that one of the contributing factors to my bout into depression and from February to May 2020 was the shut down of all National Parks and local nature preserves due to the Corona virus.
When we needed fresh air and sunshine the most, our government in it’s abundant wisdom decided to make the healthiest options for wellness verboten. But I digress!
Here in sunny California, Sequoia National Park (my closest national park stomping ground) decided to reopen it’s doors on June 4 to hiking and sightseeing ONLY.. no camping or tours or museums or other innocent and wholesome shenanigans.
While I regret being unable to spend one last camping weekend in my favorite national park before we move to the Pacific Northwest in July, I am grateful for the chance to just soak in the giant trees on a Sunday afternoon with my family.
I’ve recently discovered that this soaking in nature is actually a healthful and scientifically backed thing, and it has a name! It’s officially called Shinrin Yoku and in Japan it’s even medically prescribed!
As Time Magazine puts it:
“We all know how good being in nature can make us feel. We have known it for centuries. The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air — these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us.
But what exactly is this feeling that is so hard to put into words? In Japan, we practice something called forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku. Shinrin in Japanese means “forest,” and yoku means “bath.” So shinrin-yoku means bathing in the forest atmosphere, or taking in the forest through our senses.
This is not exercise, or hiking, or jogging. It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Shinrin-yoku is like a bridge. By opening our senses, it bridges the gap between us and the natural world.
According to a study sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spends 93% of his or her time indoors. But the good news is that even a small amount of time in nature can have an impact on our health. A two-hour forest bath will help you to unplug from technology and slow down. It will bring you into the present moment and de-stress and relax you.
The key to unlocking the power of the forest is in the five senses. Let nature enter through your ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands and feet. Listen to the birds singing and the breeze rustling in the leaves of the trees. Look at the different greens of the trees and the sunlight filtering through the branches. Smell the fragrance of the forest and breathe in the natural aromatherapy of phytoncides. Taste the freshness of the air as you take deep breaths. Place your hands on the trunk of a tree. Dip your fingers or toes in a stream. Lie on the ground. Drink in the flavor of the forest and release your sense of joy and calm. This is your sixth sense, a state of mind. Now you have connected with nature. You have crossed the bridge to happiness.”
Today my family and I did just that. We drove all the way up from the Central Valley floor up into the heart of the Giant Sequoias and embarked on a short and VERY cold walk (it was unseasonably cold and we didn’t bring jackets.. oops!) among the giant redwoods of the Congress Trail, which ends dramatically at the giant General Sherman Tree himself.
While it wasn’t the calm, quiet and stoic walk of a woman communing in nature (surrounded by dozens of tourists and chaperoning three exuberant children), it was fulfilling and nurturing and rewarding nonetheless. It was what I have been needing and craving.
I am committing, right here and now (and making it official by writing it out here in my blog / journal / accountability clan) that when I get settled in the Pacific Northwest, I am going to regularly and at the very least bi-weekly make exploring the surrounding coasts, forests and nature preserves in my new home region a NECESSITY.
Because I can attest that forest bathing is a “thing” and it WORKS. It is something my soul yearns for and craves. And because I love myself and I am committed to my health, I am making this a priority. July and August are going to be busy with packing and moving and getting settled, but come September….. regularly scheduled forest walks will be a lifestyle choice I happily and enthusiastically make.
CURRENT STATS
Start Weight (May 15, 2020): 201 pounds
Current Weight (June 7, 2020): 188.8
Total Pounds Lost (Since May 15, 2020): 12.2
Pounds Left to Lose to Reach Goal Weight of 130 pounds: 58.8
