More Info
The study: “The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan”Where to find it: ncbi.nlm.nih.govLearn more: shinrin-yoku.org
It's Saturday morning. You've reached the end of the workweek, and the beginning of a trail.
As you take your first step off the gravel parking lot and on the mossy, pine-covered ground, you look up at the swirling sunbeams that encompass the bare winter trees, all the while taking deep breaths of the chilly morning air. The trail promises seclusion, a chance to reset from the long week. But more than that, it promises the tantalizing possibility of revitalization, invigoration in the form of solitude as you make your way down Mother Nature's path.
Such a simple walk in the woods may do even more good than you think.
According to recent studies from Chiba University in Japan which studied the physiological effects of time spent immersed in nature (called Shinrin-yoku in Japanese), benefits can mean lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, lower blood pressure, lower pulse rate and more.
This idea of sensory immersion in nature isn't new - but its benefits are gaining a new appreciation and, consequently, a larger following.
These recent studies and renewed respect for the medical and wellness benefits of time spent in nature have even spawned the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs, a group that provides certification for forest-therapy guides and teaches meditative engagement practices.
But what does it all really mean?
For the 280 participants in a recent field experiment, who were placed in city environments and then sent to one of the 24 wooded areas used in the study, it meant quantifiable health benefits that lasted long after they left the forests.
For the Japanese, whose Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries coined the term Shinrin-yoku (roughly translated as "forest bathing") in the early 1980s, it means developing more opportunities for forest therapy and preventive medicine programs.
And for the rest of us, it means a trip to one of the many trails in Chattanooga for some "forest bathing" may be exactly what the doctor prescribes one day.