More than ever before, society promotes a culture of connection. Digital devices have made it easier than ever to stay on top of what’s happening, our workload and the lives of our friends and family at any given moment. This at-our-fingertips lifestyle enables us to easily find almost any information we’re looking for, but also inundates us with content we might not always be seeking. Though connection seems to be valued more than ever, staying connected to ourselves and putting away our devices is more challenging than ever.

Whether you’re introverted or extroverted, everyone needs time to rest the body, mind and brain. When you do, you come back to your sense of self and you function at higher levels in your personal and professional life. Coming back to yourself in this calm way and restoring your mind and body can seem daunting, however with the right tools, this can happen in as little 15 minutes if you know what to do.

Everyone has 15 minutes, and research shows that time in the forest significantly restores the mind and body and quickly.

It’s as Easy as Taking a Walk in the Forest

During the 1980s in Japan, doctors started prescribing a type of forest therapy called Shinrin Yoku, or forest bathing, which means “taking in the atmosphere of the forest.” They found amazing results, so started conducting research to understand the effects of spending time in the forest.

Today, over 30 years of research has been conducted that shows spending time in the forest is really good for you.

Benefits Include

• Lower stress levels
• Reduced blood pressure and lower heart rate
• Increased clarity, critical thinking and problem-solving capacities
• Heightened decision-making abilities
• An overall sense of well-being

One study even proved that 3 days outside in this way can increase your Natural Killer Cell activity (these are your cancer and tumor-fighting cells) by 56% and have lasting effects for roughly 30 days. Japanese researchers also discovered trees give off an organic chemical compound called Phytoncides (essentially a tree’s natural bug spray). When we’re present in these microscopic oils, through our senses, they help increase the vitality of our Natural Killer Cells, along with many other benefits, including:

Did You Know

• 15 min in nature reduces your cortisol (stress hormone) levels by 12%
• 2 hours in nature increases your memory and attention span by 20%
• 3 days in nature increases your cancer-fighting blood cells by 56%

The Third Way

Most people connect to the forest through an activity like hiking, biking or skiing. Forest Bathing is a third way to experience nature. It’s one that invites you to slow down and sink into your senses. In this way, you bathe in the atmosphere of the forest.

Because this way of being in the forest is new for many, it’s helpful to take a guide and learn techniques from an expert.

“This experience provides you with an opportunity to slow down, listen to your ‘other’ voice, reflect, and simply be in nature in a different way. While hiking, skiing, and other outdoor activities are wonderful, this is an opportunity to really experience nature, without any other goal or focus.”

– Annette Aubrey, Calgary, AB

Learn more about Forest Fix and our Forest Bathing
programs here.