The Healing Power of Nature

While out West recently, I had an opportunity to go "forest bathing." When you are in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, you don't pass up a chance to be outside. I figured it would be a guided nature hike at sunrise. It was, and it wasn't.

Forest bathing emerged from Japan, where it is known as "shinrin-yoku." It is a form of ecotherapy and relaxation rooted in the deep connection between human health and the natural world. Forest bathing doesn't usually involve a lot of walking. It is instead a fully immersive experience meant to engage every one of your senses in harmony with nature.

With a trained guide, we very slowly meandered along the Rio Grande Trail, which is along the path of an old railroad. Our small group introduced ourselves. Then the "bath" began:

• We listened to the sound of the wind and birds.
• We inhaled the clean air and smelled the scent of green forest, the scent of dirt, the scent of rain.
• We touched the bark of trees and squeezed the soil in our hands.
• We chewed on edible plants and flowers.
• I watched a spider crawl on the ground and the patterns of sunlight through the forest leaves.

It did feel a little "woo-woo/new agey." Baths of various kinds have become trendy of late. For example, "sound baths" are increasingly popular; you lie on your back and get washed by sound waves emitted by gongs, bowls, chimes, and tuning forks. Supposedly, it helps the body to relax and clears energy blockages within the body to promote a sense of well-being. I haven't tried it myself, but I know people who have, and they rave about it.

I sure did like the forest bath. When we emerged after an hour or so, I felt relaxed, calm, and refreshed. Advocates of forest bathing cite some studies that suggest the practice has tangible health benefits including lowered blood pressure, lowered cortisol levels, and mood elevation. I couldn't be bothered to look on PubMed to verify these claims. While I love a good randomized controlled trial, sometimes it's enough to just listen to your body. It is free and it certainly won't hurt you. So if it feels good, do it.

Common sense tells us that being outside in nature is good for our mental and physical health. I wrote a crowd-sourced column about what had helped people cope early in the COVID-19 pandemic, and nature was a recurrent theme. Here's a sample quote:

Something that has brought solace is spending time at New York State parks. With so many different locations and kinds of parks to choose from, we were able to find places that weren't too crowded and where we felt safe to socially distance. It was reassuring and helpful to experience the peaceful sights and sounds of nature, and to breathe in the clean, fresh air at those times when we were the onlypeople around and could pull down our masks. We were able to enjoy each season, marveling at nature's resiliency and steadfastness even as the human world spun out of control.

It's the height of summer and a great time to be outside in nature. The Adirondacks have been named as an ideal place for forest bathing. But you don't need to visit or live near a big forest to try it out. Even in dense New York City, 85% of residents live within walking distance of a park. (And in fact, Central Park's North Woods was created as a space for people to connect with nature; its design was inspired by the Catskills and Adirondacks.) So use your sunscreen, bug spray, and water. Leave your phone behind. Take a bath and let nature heal.

By David Sandman, President and CEO, New York Health Foundation
Published on Medium on July 15, 2024