Some trees would do you good

There has been quite a bit written about forest bathing in the last several years – and, no, it’s not about plunging into an outdoor spring (although that’s actually pretty awesome), but rather bathing in the atmosphere of a forest.  A Japanese movement that began in the 80’s, shinrin-yoku is a timely reminder for us city dwellers of the importance of connecting to the natural world.  Time spent in nature has shown to boost the immune system, decrease stress and blood pressure, and to contribute to a better overall sense of wellness.

Wellness is something I could use these days. As you’ve probably gathered from my previous post, I’ve been deeply affected by the recent rash of suicides in the news.  Add to that the usual busy work schedule, the needs of an aging parent and a knee injury that won’t quite heal, and you get a picture of a Sarah-out-of-balance.

One of the draws of San Francisco, where we relocated almost three years ago, was the proximity of undeveloped natural space.  Marin County, with its Headlands and Mt. Tam are just across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Even within city limits there are dozens of parks and natural spaces to enjoy.

Whenever I feel particularly unbalanced I find that grounding myself, literally, is often the best salve.  I like to find myself a natural space – park, beach, forest, mountain – and feel myself standing and moving on the earth.

There’s something powerful about actually feeling the ground beneath me, the life around me, the ubiquitous San Francisco fog misting my face.  Even when I’m on the road, I make it a point to seek out nature.

Public Garden in Boston

A canopy of trees on Mont Royal in Montreal.

A morning run in Hawaii

As a trail running enthusiast I often try to combine my love of the outdoors and my desire to get lost in the rhythmic effort of running.  There’s something incredibly soothing about sweating up a storm on a trail, the constantly evolving scenery, the scent of wildness and green, the changing foliage at different elevations.

Hiking!  Nearly every weekend I find myself at home, I try to head up a hill or mountain.  Step by step, carefully watching my footing, feeling the dirt the rocks the sand, the brush scraping my ankles.

I tend to live a lot in my head. And while it helps me discover more about myself, it often tilts me away from being more mindful of the world around me.  Forest (or mountain or ocean or meadow) bathing is a tangible reminder of the Life that surrounds my life.

Go out into some green hyper-oxygenated beautiful natural space today.  It’ll do you good, I promise.