20+ Things We Never Knew About Shinrin Yoku

1. It is not hiking

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Shinrin Yoku, commonly known as 'forest bathing', is the act of relaxation whilst being immersed in nature (usually surrounded by dense tree coverage). Contrary to popular belief, Shinrin Yoku is not a form of hiking, as it adds another level to embracing and experiencing nature. Hiking has exercise at its core, whereas Shinrin Yoku is based a lot more around mentality and spiritual connections.

2. It can be a personal or shared experience

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Forest bathing can be a shared or individual activity, which can really help elevate your overall experience. For people taking part in Shinrin Yoku for the first time, it is often advised that you participate within a group setting. By being in a group setting, you will find it easier to relax into the entire activity, and take the most away from the experience. Solo forest bathing is a great thing to do, if you're well-versed in solo nature exploration/meditation.

3. It can be guided or independent

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Similarly to the last point, Shinrin Yoku can be guided or independent; it's completely down to your personal preference and/or experience level. Wherever you decide to take part in Shinrin Yoku, you'll be bound to find some form of guided service. If you're within a group, a guided experience will probably be the most beneficial, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't consider a guide if you're on a solo trip.

4. It sparks creativity/problem-solving

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One of the great benefits of Shinrin Yoku, is its ability to spark creativity and/or problem-solving for individuals. It is believed, that this benefit is triggered by being so deeply immersed within your natural surroundings, and connecting to your primal roots. This connection and access to the 'hidden' areas of your mindset, are what allow you to delve into your primal instincts and ways of thinking.

5. Promotes well-being

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The key benefit of Shinrin Yoku, is its ability to promote well-being. This promotion of well-being, is one of the major selling-points of forest bathing, and it has been scientifically proven to work. The vast majority of people that have experienced forest bathing, have expressed their love and gratitude for the positive effect it has had on their physical, and mental well-being.

6. Reduces stress

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If you're struggling with the levels of stress you're experiencing, whether it's from your personal and/or professional life, Shinrin Yoku may be the best method of stress relief to explore. It has been scientifically proven, to reduce stress levels by up to 50%! It is a great alternative to medication, and other (more aggressive) methods of stress relief e.g. fighting-related exercise (boxing, martial arts).

7. Improves your mood

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It has also been reported, that Shinrin Yoku can drastically improve your mood. Believe it or not, it has been prescribed to people suffering from depression, and other mood-altering mental illnesses (as an alternative to medication). Whether or not you struggle with your mental health, forest bathing can be an amazing experience, and will allow to be emotionally vulnerable without the fear of judgement.

8. Boosts your immune system

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One of the physical benefits of Shinrin Yoku, is its effect on your immunity. Being so deeply immersed and relaxed within nature, allows your body to internally heal and boosts your immune system. Surrounding yourself with dense foliage and plant life, allows your immune system to be exposed to different bacterias, which builds up your overall immunity to potential illness.

9. Reduces high blood pressure

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Monitoring and controlling your blood pressure is an important aspect of your general health, and its importance can increase, if you have one or more health conditions that affect your heart's health. Shinrin Yoku has been proven to help reduce an individual's high blood pressure, which is yet another amazing physical benefit of forest bathing/generally entering yourself within nature.

10. Accelerates recovery from illness

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Linking back to boosting your body's immunity, forest bathing can also accelerate your recovery from illness. This connects back to you being surrounded by natural, airborne bacteria, which your body can produce anti-bodies for; resulting in an overall boost to your immune system. Another element of forest bathing, that can accelerate your recovery from illness, is your immersion within fresh/clean air (away from the pollution of densely populated areas e.g. cities).

11. Improves sleep quality

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Yet another amazing benefit of participating in Shinrin Yoku, is its ability to help improve your quality of sleep. This is particularly beneficial for individuals that suffer from sleep-related disorders e.g. insomnia, sleep apnea, sleepwalking, lucid dreams, sleep paralysis and narcolepsy. It is believed, that after experiencing the depths of nature for a prolonged period, you will find it much easier to relax and fall into a healthier sleep.

12. Lowers anxiety

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As mentioned previously, forest bathing can be extremely beneficial for your mental well-being. One of the ways it can improve your mentality, is by lowering your anxiety. It is a proven method of anxiety relief, and with repeat participation, it can lower your levels of anxiety for prolonged periods! If you're looking for an alternative method of relief to medication, Shinrin Yoku may be a great path to explore.

13. Lowers depression

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Linking back to the last point, Shinrin Yoku can also help relieve your levels of depression. This has also been proven to be an effective method of relief, and can have prolonged effects with repeat participation. It is believed to be such an effective method of relief, as it allows you to open up emotionally/be emotionally vulnerable within a non-judgemental setting.

14. Improves your quality of life

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It should come as no surprise, that forest bathing can hugely improve your quality of life. This is a result of all the physical and mental benefits it can provide people with, and the way in which it can invigorate your physical and spiritual self. This invigoration and connection to these elements of yourself, can really help put your life into perspective, and open up your mind to new opportunities etc.

15. Improves your metabolic function

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A surprising benefit of forest bathing, is its ability to improve your metabolic function (how fast your body processes, digests and burns energy from food). It is believed, that this particular benefit is derived from the physical element of the overall process e.g. walking, stretching and general movement. By actively exercising your physical self, you are able to improve your body's internal health and functionality.

16. Improves your lung function

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Yet another physical benefit of Shinrin Yoku, is its ability to improve your lung function. This is due to being immersed within fresh, crisp, clean air, that contains very little pollution/other harmful synthetic microbes. When participating in forest bathing, you will complete a variety of breathing exercises, that will allow you to expand your lung capacity/will leave you feeling as though your lungs have been refreshed.

17. Helps you feel more connected to nature

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As mentioned previously, forest bathing is heavily centred around nature, and its potential healing powers. Connecting to nature can be difficult, especially with the stress and strain of modern living, but forest bathing can be a great method of escaping away from drone of nine-to-five living. Shinrin Yoku usually takes place within areas that are densely populated with plant-life and foliage, and are located a fair distance from cities and other built-up areas. This is what allows you to really disconnect from your everyday living, and connect with the beauty of nature.

18. Improves your overall concentration

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Shinrin Yoku is great for improving your overall levels of concentration. This is a result, of the disconnect you experience from everyday living/activities. It allows your mind to relax, and clear of any negative thought patterns, which creates a better mindset for you to concentrate on your surroundings and actions. With repeated participation/practice, your overall levels/longevity of concentration will improve greatly.

19. Developed in 1980's Japan

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You're probably wodnering how Shinrin Yoku came to be. It had been practiced for many years prior, but the term 'Shinrin Yoku', was actually developed in 1980's Japan. It was considered as a form of 'eco-therapy', and was quickly accepted by the Japanese, as it was an affordable and accessible form of therapy. It wasn't long, before scientists started looking into the potential physical and psychological benefits of forest bathing, which led to them discovering the benefits listed within this article (among many others).

20. Based around plants' production of Phytoncides

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A lot of the benefits mentioned within this article, are based around the science of plants' production of phytoncides. Phytoncides are the chemicals released by plants into their surrounding atmosphere. These particular chemicals have ben proven to improve mental and physical well-being e.g. boosting your mood, improving your skin, helping you feel energized etc.

21. Great alternative to medication

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Shinrin Yoku is a great alternative to medication, whether it's for a mental of physical ailment. It has been proven that the nature you immerse yourself in, has immense healing properties, and can be quite a cathartic experience for yourself and others. Of course, it can't be considered a replacement for medical treatment (if that is required for your condition), but it can be a perfect activity to participate in alongside your medical treatment.

22. Helps you detox from technology

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As mentioned previously, forest bathing is a great way to disconnect from the daily stress and struggles of nine-to-five living. A key aspect of this, includes detoxing from all forms of technology e.g. your cellphone, laptop/computer, tablets etc. For an authentic, and truly immersive experience, it is advised that you leave any potential distractions at home/in your hotel room (mainly cellphones).

23. Improves mindfulness

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Adding to the list of Shinrin Yoku's mental health benefits, is its ability to improve your mindfulness. Mindfulness refers to the ways in which you connect to you mentality and thought processes, and how you actively try to improve your ways of thinking. Forest bathing is a great method of improving your mindfulness, as it allows you to separate from the physicality of everyday living, and really reach into the deepest areas of your thinking.

24. Has been practiced across cultures

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Although it originated within Japan, Shinrin Yoku has been (and continues to be) practiced across a range of cultures. As it only requires a large, open, 100% natural space (preferably away from cityscapes etc.), many countries provide some form of forest bathing experience. In other countries and cultures, it may have a different term, but the overall practice will have the same concept.

25. Allows you to consciously connect with your surroundings

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One of the greatest elements of Shinrin Yoku, is the way it allows you to consciously connect to your surroundings. This can be in a physical and/or mental sense, and can really allow you to be grateful for what nature can offer you. By being able to consciously connect with nature, you can allow yourself to open up your general mentality and/or spiritual self.

26. Can be tried in a range of places

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As forest bathing is practiced across cultures, this means that it can be practiced anywhere in the world (you don't have to travel to Japan to experience it). This means, that you can search for nature trails and clearings within your local area, and explore whether or not they would be suitable for practicing Shinrin Yoku. It can be practiced within fields, forests, nature trails, mountains, deserts and other natural expanses.

27. Great method of sensory immersion

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Sensory immersion is another amazing benefit of forest bathing, and is one of the key sources of relaxation. This style of immersion, is in reference to all five of your senses (sight, sound, taste and touch). When taking part in forest bathing, you may experience some of your senses being heightened, whilst other senses are partially deprived. This provides individuals with a unique sensory experience, and is a great method of complete relaxation.

28. Enhances spiritual connections

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Spirituality can seem like a difficult thing to understand and connect with, especially if you haven't experienced anything remotely spiritual in the past. However, if you're looking to delve into the world of spirituality and exploring your spiritual being, forest bathing is a great method to do so. As you're consciously connecting to your surroundings and mentality, you may find it easier to elevate your thinking, and open up the door to access your spiritual self.

29. Pushes you out of your comfort zone

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Forest bathing is a great way to push you out of your comfort zone, both physically and mentally. This is due to the unique methods of immersion, and the ways in which it can allow you to open up emotionally. Emotional vulnerability is often a key part of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and participating in Shinrin Yoku is a wonderfully safe, and judgement-free way to do this.

30. Increases energy levels

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Your energy levels can be greatly improved via Shinrin Yoku, and it has been proven to have prolonged effects for individuals that have suffered with a lack of energy, which is often associated with poor sleep and daily stress. Due to its ease of access, forest bathing can be practiced anywhere, and is a much cheaper alternative to purchasing sugary energy drinks/synthetic energy supplements.