Another wonderful benefit when we take time to be in nature.......
Part 3.
Forest Bathing
This is the experience that sweeps over you as you walk among trees. In Japanese it is called “shinrin-yoku”- simply being in nature and connecting with it through sight, sound, smell and touch. It has been shown, through decades of research to:
boost your immune system,
lower blood pressure and heart rate,
help alleviate depression and anxiety,
help reduce stress hormones - cortisol and adrenaline
Being amongst even just a few trees can transition your nervous system from the sympathetic- fight or flight mode we are normally in, to the parasympathetic mode - rest and digest - which is when our bodies heal, grow and repair, as well as produce hormones and detox from the day. The longer time we can spend in a forest, the better, but even short periods will result in health benefits. The idea here is not for this to be your cardio session for the week, but rather more like yoga or tai chi, benefiting both mind and body.
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