This past weekend, I experienced something new to me. My husband and I went on a guided nature walk entitled “forest bathing.” I knew when I read the description that this would be a fantastic experience, and it was!
Before telling you about my direct experience, I will give you a brief overview of forest bathing. Forest bathing is the new “yoga” and is gaining popularity. It has become an eco-friendly and healthy antidote to our technology-saturated world.
Forest bathing is a Japanese practice that encourages people to spend time in nature. In 1982, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry created the term “shinrin-yoku”- meaning “forest walks.” The goal behind these strolls is to enhance our connection to nature. It is a form of mindfulness practiced outside.