WALKING IN THE WOODS

'Go back to nature with the Japanese way of shinrin-yoku' or 'Forest bathing'. The term was coined in Japan in the 1980s and means to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the forest. Trees hold a place in so many people's hearts. We instinctively know that we feel better in nature. Japanese Professor Miyazaki offers a guide to the practice of forest bathing and the science behind it which reveals the healing power of trees and the benefits of going for a gentle walk in the woods, from strengthening the immune system, to immeasurably reducing stress levels and improving mood. Today we are over stimulated and stressed by our man-made world which makes our bodies more susceptible to disease. It is not surprising that attention is turning to shinrin-yoku as an example of a natural and low cost way to alleviate this problem and provide preventative medical effects that makes falling ill less likely. The author says 'I also remember wondering why my body felt so relaxed when I came into contact with soil, flowers and trees' and William Blake said 'The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way... But to the eyes of the man of imagination, Nature is Imagination itself.' Here is a practice that involves all the senses as you gently walk and breathe deeply, the essential oils of the trees absorbed by the body having an extraordinary effect on positive feelings, stress hormone levels, parasympathetic nervous activity, sympathetic nervous activity, blood pressure, heart rate and brain activity. A wonderful book by the leading expert in the field where science meets nature. 192 page illustrated paperback.