Forest Bathing

What is forest bathing?

This ancient Japanese art is a process of relaxation. In Japan this is known as “Shrinrin Yoku” which means taking-in the forest atmosphere during a leisurely walk. It was further evolved in the 1980’s and is becoming a corner stone in Japanese Medicine. Forest Bathing is gaining a lot of interest across the world.

Researchers have found that spending time with the Forest trees, positively helps us calm ourselves.

Peaceful Relaxation and Calm

The practice creates neuropsychological calming effects which actively lower our stress hormone cortisol and boosts the immune system. Studies have shown within just 15 minutes practice your stress levels can be reduced. A chemical released by the trees and plants called phytoncides have an anti-microbial effect on our bodies and have been found to boost our immune systems. Sounds too good to be true? Why not give it a try? Firstly, the good news is you won’t need to take your clothes off to get in any water!

How to start forest bathing?

1. Find a forest, we love the ones in Wales, if you go with others agree to do the walk silently
2. Leave behind your goals and expectations
3. Turn off all your devices to give yourself the best chance of not being distracted.
4. Slow down, take your time and start to wander…, use all of your senses, start to notice the forest, look more closely at the trees, leaves and maybe see how they feel
5. Focus on your breath, pay attention to how you are breathing and slow down
6. Start to take long slow breaths from your abdomen
7. Stop, stand or sit somewhere comfy and take time to recognise what you can hear and smell.
8. You will start to notice your surroundings in a new way and relax, stay as long as you are enjoying it, even 10 minutes will make a difference, but you could stay for an hour.

There are a number of expert Forest Bathing Practitioners who can help guide you to understand the practice better. A good book to read is “Shrinrin Yoku” by Dr Ging Li. The book “Shrinkin Yoku” contains tips on how to practise forest bathing, charming facts about Japan and is full of wonderful photographs of forests around the world to make the reading experience like a pocket version of a trip to the forest.

Forest Bathing from Tŷ Mawr in Brechfa Forest, Carmarthenshire

We are very fortunate at Tŷ Mawr Country Hotel to have the Brechfa Forest on our doorstep. With over 16,000 acres of forest it is the perfect place to practice and experience Forest Bathing. We have a number of mapped walks we can provide for you, where you will find space to experience some inner calm.