Nature Bathing
Zoe Weinstein
05.09.2024
When you are panicking it is recommended to find five things you can see, four you can touch, three you hear, two you smell, and one you can taste. Take a moment now and try it, without panicking. How many of your objects were man-made? The majority of us live surrounded by items made by machines. We read on phones, listen to music through speakers, and gaze at carefully curated posters. When surrounded by our horde of material goods, it is easy to lose touch with the real world. Enter forest bathing.
Forest bathing, also called Shinrin-yoku, originated in Japan as a soothing practice for droves of office workers. Part mindfulness and part ecological preservation, the goal was to restore a sense of connection between humans and the earth. It provides a framework to practice connection with the natural world that can be replicated by just about anyone anywhere. Although “forest” is in the name you don’t need a forest to reap the benefits of the practice, any area dedicated to nature will suffice, the goal is merely to be completely present. A local park, university quad, or a nature reserve will all have similarly positive effects, so find what makes the most sense for you!
When you arrive at your location you are ready to begin! Take out your headphones, turn off your phone, and open yourself to your surroundings. Unlike traditional meditation, you do not need to direct your thoughts, rather let them wander as you experience your surroundings. Notice how the wind flows through the trees, the grass bends, and the ground crunches beneath your feet. Feel the sun on your face or the cold bite on your fingers. Tune into your senses as you walk, or sit among the plants. If it strikes your fancy you can even test out the exercise at the beginning of this passage, regardless of where your attention goes: congratulations, you are forest bathing!
While it may seem like the advice of hippies, multiple scientific studies conducted across the United States, Japan, and Sweden have analyzed the impact of time in nature on the mental health of college students. The general results have been positive, with just 10-20 minutes in nature have shown improvements in stress markers on the study subjects. While these findings are preliminary, they offer evidence that this practice has concrete benefits, although like all advice results may vary between individuals. Additionally, this practice is not medical advice and should not be seen as a replacement for mental health intervention when needed.
If forest bathing sounds appealing, look for nature near you! For students based in downtown Boston, there are a few accessible options. First, the Fens: a large park located 10 minutes from Fenway Park, and just a five-minute walk from Northeastern’s campus. Here there is a creek that meanders about along with a handful of walking paths. Similarly, the Boston Commons and the Boston Public Garden are in the center of the city, near many historical sites, and worth a visit to see the ducks in the spring and summer! For those craving a more immersive nature experience the Blue Hills reservation is just a twenty-minute drive away from the city, and boasts many different hiking trails for those of all abilities. Whether you choose to find a tree-lined street near your campus or hike a mountain getting outside will reduce your stress, and help you connect with the world around you, so get exploring!
