Forest Bath: An Effective Antidote To Stress
Do you want to learn about forest swimming? Stress has become a silent enemy that lurks everywhere. The big cities tend to produce one thing above all else: stressed people . City life sometimes produces stress just by walking down the street. This bombardment of stimuli can be so loud that anyone would have been stressed.
Our senses are also affected by stress. For example, it is more difficult for us to distinguish between odors due to environmental toxins. The same goes for sound. On every main street in the cities, the noise level is so high that we are even forced to talk louder. We usually also have to concentrate more to be able to hear.
The same thing happens with our other senses. We close our eyes or look down so as not to be confused. Or even worse: we do not enjoy what we eat because we are always too stressed. In fact, for many, lunch is a waste of time. And when it comes to feeling, are we even aware that we are gradually becoming more insensitive to touch and to exploring our environment?
We give the term “leisure” an incorrect definition or meaning. Many people think that it means that you do nothing. When we have some free time for ourselves, we waste it in front of the TV, a video game or in front of the computer. In this way we can sink into another reality, and without even noticing it we become prisoners of stress.
Does nature help fight stress?
The answer to this question is a resounding yes. The doctors recommend i.a. that you keep in touch with nature. Do you remember your trips to the forest. You have probably noticed that when you leave the city behind you, everything changes. The smells, sounds and landscapes change. Our senses come to life and we feel many things that we do not think about in our daily lives.
But in addition to seeking contact with nature, there is a very valuable technique for counteracting stress: forest swimming. This technology comes from Japan, a country that has one of the most developed economies in the world. At the same time, however, it has one of the highest suicide rates among teenagers and people with diseases (including death) in its population. This is probably caused by them working too much.
Technology means reuniting with nature, whether you are in a forest or in an open field. The idea is to relax and put aside the chaos that we are surrounded by every day. In this way, we reduce our stress levels so that we can handle them better. Taking a walk in nature means breaking free from many of the stimuli that cause anxiety.
The benefits of forest baths
The most important advantage of taking a forest bath is that you can connect with the universe through nature. You will also be able to cope with stress better. Forest bath (whose Japanese name is Shinrin Yoku ) offers other opportunities in addition to taking walks. You can, if you want, hug a tree and experience the benefits of exchanging your bad energy for the tree’s. Or you can drink a decoction of aromatic plants that make you more relaxed.
Nature helps you to see the world from a different perspective. When you are stressed, this is partly because your brain is overloaded. Forest baths reduce cerebral activity related to decision making and problem solving. Instead, it activates areas of the brain that are associated with emotions, pleasure and creativity.
In order for the forest baths to be able to reduce your stress levels, you must set aside enough time for this. It will not be good if you rush through the experience. Remember that you will benefit from the goodness that nature brings. A goodness that you can only get if you pay attention to every step you take. Also remember that you can also practice meditation while walking. It is enough to be alert and keep your senses awake.
It will not cost anything to fill yourself with good energy. It also does not require much effort. It is enough that you open your mind and your heart. Remember that you are part of this universe. We all have a function. We are all connected and every decision we make affects our environment. If we want peace, health and spiritual development, we should start by reconnecting with nature.
