CONNECT WELLNESS
Victoria Clayton (Miyazaki)
As I approached the hiking trail, I was greeted by many signs warning of the forest’s dangers. Having spent most of my life in a concrete jungle, I’d become more accustomed to hooded figures in alleyways and the distant sound of sirens than the shadows of creatures in the woods rustling behind me. Stepping through the arches of trees, I let out a sigh of relief as the crisp, cool air of the forest provided my body respite from Japan’s smothering summer heat. That moment of relief, however brief, resolved me to push forward with my journey into the forest. The reason I was even on this journey was because I had heard from a friend that the Japanese practice of “forest bathing” was supposed to have many physical and mental benefits.
If you, too, can move past the often exaggerated warnings, you’ll uncover the magical healing powers that lie deep within Japan’s forests. I am not talking about enchanted forests that hide princesses waiting for a prince’s life-changing kiss, nor magical swords trapped in stone that, if pulled, will ascend you into royalty. What I’m talking about is the humble power of what is known as “forest bathing”— walking through nature. Forest bathing is the English translation of the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (森林浴), which is sometimes also called “forest therapy.” Today, these terms are often used interchangeably. Forest bathing has been scientifically proven to improve your mental and physical well-being, creativity, and
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