Create a Forest Bathing experience
Here are a few steps to create your own Forest bathing experience:
- At best, the forest bathing trail needs to be as level as possible.
- A good part of the trail should be under the forest canopy.
- It is also good to find a meadow with an uninterrupted view
- If you decide to sit then a sitting spot should have a sensible degree of privacy, screened by foliage that include some native plants.
- Sounds of nature are particularly important in the forest bathing experience. Ideally the soundscape should comprise babbling brooks, the wind as it passes through the trees, and the sound of birds.
Carrying out your own Shinrin-Yoku
- Practice mindful walking. By walking slowly and quietly you can mimic movement of nature. Walking in a deliberate fashion, each inhale should match the lifting of one leg, while exhales should match the connection between the ground and your feet. Reflect on your thoughts while connecting to the earth, this connection can be used as a detox for negative energy, emotion, and thoughts. Try to walk barefoot so you can channel everything from your mind through your body down into your feet and out through the ground.
- Sit quietly, be still and breathe. To perform this kind of practice, find a quiet spot where nature is present (leaves, trees, moss, rivers etc.) Make sure you won’t be disturbed by any wildlife or human interaction. Once you find this spot, sit down, count to 10 and breathe in deeply as you observe the vast scenery in front of your eyes.
- Connect to the trees. Relax under the chosen tree, sit down against the tree’s trunk, open yourself to feel the power of the tree. Allow the tree to calm your thoughts. Inhale the scent of fresh leaves or sap. Trees like Pine and Fir are cleansing and grounding in aromatherapy. Try to enjoy this relaxing state for as long as possible. You may stand up when you are ready. As you do so be thankful, place your hands around the tree’s trunk and send gratitude from your heart.
- Finish with a Tea ceremony. One of the best ways to end your forest bathing is to hold a tea ceremony. Note that there is no formalised structure for the tea ceremony, just pour a cup of tea from your flask and enjoy sharing your experience with fellow forest bathers or simply extend your forest bathing moment for few more minutes….
