Bathing … in the Woods

Well, it’s finally here — that time of year when we’re itching to get back outside, soak up the spring air, and feel the warmth of the sun on our faces.

This week, I want to share an idea that might shift how you think about your next walk in the woods. Or, dare I say… your next forest bath?

Whether the forest is just beyond your backyard or a short drive away, being surrounded by trees is deeply peaceful. 

Fresh air, sunlight, the earthy scent of leaves and bark — it all feels like medicine for the soul. And in many ways, it actually is.

While hiking or trail running is an effective way to get moving, there’s another practice that’s less about activity and more about being: it’s called Forest Bathing.

Before you picture a woodland hot tub, let me clarify — this is a fully clothed, contemplative practice :-).

Forest Bathing is about immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and smells of the woods. You’re not exercising, chatting, or chasing your dog. 

You’re simply present, allowing the forest to work its quiet magic on your senses.

The term “Forest Bathing” comes from the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, developed in the 1980s as a mindfulness technique. 

It’s as simple as walking slowly through the forest with intentional awareness. Hopefully, your phone is off — or at least silenced — and your to-do list has momentarily faded into the background.

Ask yourself:

🌲 What do I see?
🌲 What do I hear?
🌲 What do I smell?
🌲 How does that soft moss feel under my hand?
🌲 How does the coolness of the stream running over my fingertips feel?

Dr. Qing Li, a leading researcher and author of Forest Bathing, writes:

 “Forest bathing is not exercise, or hiking, or jogging. It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Shinrin-yoku is like a bridge. By opening our senses, it bridges the gap between us and the natural world.”

And what a bridge it is. 

Research shows that Forest Bathing can reduce stress, improve sleep, and even strengthen our immune systems. 

Breathing in the forest air exposes us to phytoncides — antimicrobial compounds released by trees — which have been shown to increase our white blood cell count and reduce stress hormone levels.

One fascinating study compared a walk in the woods to a walk in the city. The forest walkers experienced:

🪵 A 12.4% drop in cortisol (a stress hormone)
🪵 A 7% decrease in sympathetic nerve activity (fight-or-flight response)
🪵 A 1.4% drop in blood pressure
🪵 And a 5.8% decrease in heart rate

If walking were a pill, it would be front-page news. 

In fact, more and more doctors are prescribing it — literally. And for many people, having a “prescription” for walking or Forest Bathing turns it into a priority. 

One that could prevent the need for medication down the line.

As Dr. Robert Sallis and Dr. Karen J. Coleman asked in the Sports Medicine Bulletin:

“What if there was a pill you took one day that lowered your blood pressure, prevented diabetes, improved your mood and protected against depression, increased bone density and prevented fractures, helped you remain independent as an older adult, enhanced your ability to think, and gave you more energy?”

That pill already exists — and it’s called walking.

So as the season opens its arms to us, I invite you to try Forest Bathing. 

Or simply use the woods as your sanctuary for movement, stillness, and everything in between.

And if you’re finding it hard to make time for it? Maybe your doctor can write you a prescription — for a walk in the woods.

That’s a kind of medicine we can all agree on.

To close, I’ll leave you with another out take from from Henry David Thoreau's essay Walking:

So get out there for a walk in the woods - the benefits are many!