Forest Bathing
It is no secret that life is hard for the Japanese. Starting in preschool, they are taught to be polite and considerate of others. There are countless rules of etiquette that must be learned and practiced. Competition for admission to elite high schools and colleges is fierce and stressful. The parents are stressed, mothers feel guilty if their children do not succeed, and when they do, they exercise their bragging rights with bursting pride. Once employed in a company, there is the stress of learning the corporate culture that stipulates that an employee must work long hours and get the job done, no matter the personal sacrifices. When the boss wants to go out for drinks, the employee cannot refuse. Lunch is usually half an hour but they take 15 minutes, aware of coworkers’ watchful eyes on their return. Fifty-eight percent of women are not interested in marriage or childbirth, and hugs were programmed out of the culture centuries ago. They bow and exercise their passion in private.
Against such a backdrop, Japan is the ideal venue for researchers to study the benefits of leisurely walks in the forest. There are abundant trees within a short distance from urban centers. The Japanese love nature and go for picnics to observe cherry blossoms, they have moon viewing parties, and get excited over glimpses of Mount Fuji. These activities make them receptive to participating in physical programs that slow down the frenetic pace of life in Japan.
Starting in the 1980s, Japanese researchers began studying the effects of taking leisurely walks in the forest. The researchers documented empirical evidence. They found that the natural killer cells, or NK cells, which are the body’s natural defense against cancer cells, had increased after a typical one- to two-hour walk in the forest. The other benefits included an improved a sense of well-being, reduction of stress, and a feeling of rejuvenation with improved sleep. In 1982, the forestry minister coined the term shinrin-yoku which translates to forest bathing.
From 2004 to 2012, the Japanese government spent nearly 4 million dollars on extensive research, and 48 paths were certified based on increased numbers of NK cells after a walk. Organizations were formed to create guidelines, disseminate information, and certify forest therapy guides. The programs are promoted as preventive measures. The guides lead small groups through the paths and participants take in the majesty of the trees, the life forces found in a verdant environment, and activities such as meditation and yoga.
Forest bathing has become a worldwide movement with organizations established to certify forest paths and train therapy guides. With so many documented benefits, forest bathing is a pleasant and therapeutic pastime worth considering.
Livni, Ephrat, Trees Please, Quartz, 2016, October 12, https://qz.com/804022/health-benefits-japanese-forest-bathing/