Forest Therapy: A natural reservoir for Mental Wellbeing
“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of human spirit.” –Edward Abbey
The word ‘Forest therapy’/bathing must sound like a newly emerged trend among travellers these days, filling you with excitement to experience it. Beyond any shadow of a doubt, forest bathing is a practice followed in Japanese culture for centuries. It originated in Japan during the 1980s and is known as ‘Shinrin-yoku. This Therapy is known for its restorative benefits and is highly beneficial for various mental disorders and illnesses. As it sounds, it’s not any extraordinarily designed therapy. It is just a redefined term to purely soak up in nature, being present and experiencing all the natural sounds of the forest that instantly calms your spirit.
When you connect to the outer world with awareness of all 5 senses of the human body, you bridge the gap between the both, leaving with a unifying feeling of oneness. This connection between humans and nature is not only addressed by its spiritual benefits. It is also backed up by scientific research through the term coined by biologist O. Wilson in 1984 called ‘Biophilia Hypothesis. This term explains the science behind the connection between the two that says humans are genetically predisposed to be attracted to nature. This inherent attraction comes from a biological need.
In the last few years, especially post-pandemic ‘Forest Therapy’ has gained popularity worldwide. This living example has proved that the more disconnected we are from nature, the more our mental health deteriorates.
Last year I had a deep yearning for a pure forest experience.’Wildernest Resort’ on Chorla ghat near Belgaum was the long-awaited resort we planned to go to. This nature resort is in the jungle with a complete digital detox experience. There is no network or TV inside the rooms. Our initial restlessness was patiently embraced by the whistling woods of Chorla Forest. Transforming it into a mesmerizing meditative experience for hours through the balcony view of a narrow waterfall. Which I could see for hours, clueless and curious to know this unexplainable relation with the nature unknown to this urban human mind.
One of the reasons lies in the scientific evidence that nature helps restore your spirit. It says that forest naturally emits essential wood oils called ‘Phytoncides’. Forest air is filled with phytoncides emitted by the trees to protect against insects. Studies have shown that phytoncides decreased the levels of stress hormones, depression, and anxiety issues. There is also growing evidence from scientific research that forest therapy is equally beneficial for the body. Forest therapy doesn’t necessarily have to be in the forest. While most of the population stays in the concrete jungle these days, all you have to do is identify the nearest green spot, if it’s your own garden good enough, or you can even convert your indoors into a nature-friendly atmosphere by adding indoor plants in various corners of the house, creating a cozy sunkissed corner in your home to see the morning sunrise and sunset, followed by the natural sounds like birds chirping and singing, with the occasional rustle of breeze flowing.
The only paramount factor here is getting fully involved in the process with all your 5 senses. Here are a few tips and processes to enhance your experience of forest bathing:
Though I would recommend having a forest therapy guide be your support. It is possible to reap all the benefits if you are responsible enough to follow the process. It goes without saying before you go for a forest bathing, you need me to make sure you are completely disconnected from the outside world.
You need to have an open mind with complete awareness of your surroundings and senses. They say there is a unique relationship between intentions, spirituality, and the universe. When you set your intention for the practice, you invite the universe to work with you to make it accurate.
Sound: In rig, Vedas forest is associated with the goddess known as ‘Aranyani’. They say she is never seen, only heard. Paying attention to all the natural sounds of nature, like the wild birds and animals or insects, the swaying of trees and the waterfall nearby, will have enormous magical effects on your moods. Many guided meditations are inspired by the sounds of the forest.
Sight: By sight, we mean seeing the greenery around with mindful sight, noticing through each and every angle the unique shapes of trees and leaves, any unusual formation in the soil, and the texture of different greens. The sight of being enveloped in the forest reminds me that there is something vast and massive up there than human existence. It grounds me instantly.
Smell: This sense has the most powerful impact on our mind and body. Forest has its uniques set of smells and aromas than can elevate your forest bathing experience. These aromas of the tree oils or the wildflowers and grass will only bring you closer to that very live moment you are experiencing mindfully.
Touch: Touch is another strong experience that allows you to have non-verbal communication with nature through each other’s vibrations. The easiest way to connect to mother earth is by walking barefoot, wherever it is safe to walk. When you walk barefoot on the earth’s surface, you receive powerful restorative electrons that the earth offers to every living thing.
Taste: Foraging for food in the wild will allow you to taste the purely organic food with maximum health benefits and a totally immersive and a complete experience of this practice. But beware that not all fruits and food are good for humans in the forest, as forests are filled with poisonous plants. It’s a safe idea to check with your guide.
Ending this meaningful experience with gratitude towards the forest for its magical wisdom and healing would leave you with satisfaction and fulfilment.
Forest therapy is an excellent approach to building the gap between humans and the natural world. Their irreplaceable healing effects will keep you going through all the rough patches of life built by human intelligence. To preserve and protect both the wild and urban forests is every human being’s responsibility. Next time whenever you get the simplest opportunity to connect with nature, don’t forget to stop and marvel at the beauty of nature.
“The further we move away from nature, the further we move away from our own nature too.” –Sadguru
References
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science .6143402