If you follow us day by day to discover our Advent gems, thank you! You should therefore be reading this article on a Sunday, and we thought it would be a good day to talk to you about forest therapy.
Forest therapy, what is it?
The term comes from silva , which in Latin means forest. It's a practice that comes to us from Japan, and which consists of immersing oneself in the forest, practicing mindful breathing, walking there, or even hugging trees… yes, yes, all of that, and barefoot, please!
It is therefore a meditation and relaxation technique that allows the practitioner to receive the energy of trees, through contact, breathing, sight…
A lifestyle with scientifically proven benefits:
You will find the list of scientific studies at the bottom of the article; most are in English, but keep reading and we will give you a brief summary!
Firstly, studies all demonstrate benefits on a psychological and physiological level, and formidable effectiveness against depression and anxiety, including a reduction in blood pressure, cortisol levels, and negative thoughts.
Forest therapy also helps to sleep better, to concentrate, and strengthens the immune system.
Our five senses in action
The view
It is surely one of the first senses to be stimulated by a beautiful walk in the forest.
The eyes never tire of green colors, and, combined with the blue of the sky (if you are lucky enough to go for a walk on a sunny day!), these colors reassure the primitive part of our brain.
Indeed, what better place than the forest to find food? Our hunter-gatherer ancestors would certainly agree!
Furthermore, green is known in chromotherapy to soothe emotions.
In addition to colors, you can rely on the beautiful fractal shapes naturally present in nature to help you relax. You might encounter them without even realizing it. You know, those shapes of seashells, snowflakes…
The sense of smell
Perhaps reading these lines brings back to mind delicate, powerful and familiar smells: the earthy smell of humus in the undergrowth, the freshness of conifers and pure air, the moisture of leaves, the scent of conifers, etc.
It is precisely these fragrant molecules (phytoncides and terpenes) which, coming from essential oils, are beneficial to us. They even stimulate the production of the happiness hormones: serotonin and dopamine.
Hearing
Have you ever tried relaxing by playing a playlist of nature sounds? It's very effective, and for good reason! The sound of wind in leaves, branches cracking, birds singing, water flowing, or even just silence… These sounds act directly on our parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for our states of relaxation.
Touch
Hugging trees, touching them, caressing branches, and running your fingers over thorns… do you even need to be told that you'll feel better afterward? A few precautions are necessary, however, given the presence of mosses and potentially stinging insects…
The taste
Okay, we admit it, we wouldn't recommend eating the leaves. But it's close! For the more experienced, the forest is teeming with resources; just think of mushrooms. But you could also decide to bring back some chestnuts to roast, or linden leaves for perfect bedtime teas.
In practice:
You are convinced but you don't yet know how to go about it, especially if you have children?
- You can give them a camera and ask them to photograph certain shapes, or certain colors, playing with zooms, angles…
- Collect leaves and pieces of bark to then create a pretty decorative picture.
- A game of hide-and-seek.
And if you live in the city or are too far from a forest, know that even a walk in the city once a week will bring you these benefits, provided you focus on the trees, observe them, and breathe mindfully. Look out for the holm oak, recommended for stress relief, or the birch, which is said to boost self-esteem!
Happy Sunday, and we hope you have a great walk! And of course, see you tomorrow to open a new window on our digital advent calendar.
You can find the list of cited studies here: https://www.natureandforesttherapy.earth/about/the-science
You can also continue reading with:
- Dr. Qing Li, Shinrin yoku, the art and science of forest bathing . First Edition, 2018. 320 p.
- Peter Wohlleben, The Secret Life of Trees . Les Arènes, 2017. 260 p.
