The un-hike: Forest bathing for beginners

801 Cabot Street,Beverly MA 01915

20 May, 2023

Description

The clothes stay on. That’s the first thing to know about forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku). And there is no soap involved, not even a pine-scented bath bomb.  What there is in a Forest Bath is a gentle walk and time spent in nature to restore and reboot our bodies, mind and spirit. How can something so simple be so amazing? The idea is simple: if a person simply visits a natural area and walks in a relaxed way there are calming, rejuvenating and restorative benefits to be achieved.  Join us for this soothing experience.  We'll be taking a restorative walk through J.C. Phillips Nature Preserve.  Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Researchers primarily in Japan and South Korea have established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time under the canopy of a living forest. Now their research is helping to establish shinrin-yoku and forest therapy throughout the world.  We have always known this intuitively. But in the past several decades there have been many scientific studies that are demonstrating the mechanisms behind the healing effects of simply being in wild and natural areas.  For example, many trees give off organic compounds that support our “NK” (natural killer) cells that are part of our immune system's way of fighting cancer. The scientifically-proven benefits of Shinrin-yoku include: Boosted immune system functioning, with an increase in the count of the body's Natural Killer (NK) cells.Reduced blood pressureReduced stressImproved moodIncreased ability to focus, even in children with ADHDAccelerated recovery from surgery or illnessIncreased energy levelImproved sleepJust as impressive are the results that we are experiencing as we make this part of our regular practice: Deeper and clearer intuitionIncreased flow of energyIncreased capacity to communicate with the land and its speciesIncreased flow of eros/life forceDeepening of friendshipsOverall increase in sense of happinessThis will be a wonderful and relaxing experience.  We're looking forward to sharing this time with you.  WHAT TO EXPECT: The walk will be about a mile in wooded areas. Along the way, we will gather, relax, and take in nature. You can stay on the trail or wander a bit.  WHAT TO BRING: Please bring water and a snack. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes for walking on forest trails and terrain with slight hills. You may also want to have a sunhat, sunblock, and bug repellant. Bring anything else you may want to be comfortable outdoors. RAINY WEATHER: Please check the weather forecast so you are prepared. Rain often enhances sensory experience and can make for a memorable walk. Please wear comfortable clothing and dress in layers to stay warm and dry.  If the weather is severe, we will reschedule the forest bath.   RSVP as the exact meetup location and other details will be emailed to you.   ** The entrance is across from Birch Plains Park