What? Bathing In A Forest?

I have been reading lately about some “new ways” to promote better health, self-care and overall well-being. Goodness knows, we all need it. Between growing more “mature” and becoming care providers for family and even for some friends, plus the general world situation, the economy and the violence that seems to be spreading exponentially closer and closer to home, there is a genuine need to find a place to be calm and peaceful.

This calmness needs to encompass body, mind and spirit plus emotions. We simply cannot be bombarded with the news every day and expect to go about life as if nothing is upsetting.

So, what to do? We only have so much control.

Actually, the “new” ways that are being thrown out there are not really new at all. We have simply parted ways with them as we have become a more advanced and sophisticated world.

Have you heard about earthing? Or forest bathing (www.natureandforesttherapy.earth)? I know, at first, they seem like strange words to put together. Bathing in a forest? Well, not really. It is simply what we used to call a walk in the woods. The Japanese have made this an art of mindfulness as they immerse themselves in nature.

“Earthing refers to making direct contact between the human body and the ground, allowing the body to interact with the earth’s energy,” according to authors Dr. Stephen Sinatra, Clinton Ober and Martin Zucker (Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever!” This, too, is not really new is it? How many times as kids did we kick off our shoes and run through the sprinkler in the front lawn? Do you see kids doing that anymore? I don’t. Or go barefooted all day and forget where we put our shoes? Didn’t we let our babies (and now our grandkids) go without shoes and socks all summer long? Makes me wonder if the kids didn’t know what they were doing when they were constantly pulling off their socks?

Apparently, there are now some scientific studies that show there is measurable proof that we can garner health and mental benefits from earthing and forest bathing; such as pain relief, improved sleep, stress reduction, anti-inflammatory effects and enhanced skin appearance.

Big deal! We maybe didn’t have the scientific “proof”, but we have known this for a long time. Do what our generation has always known but has simply stopped doing because we are too busy. (Read the latest blog, How Much Do You Love Yourself? about doing what makes you feel better).

Go for a walk in the woods, walk through the grass or on the beach and immerse yourself in nature. Breathe deeply, literally, tune in with nature, listen, touch, meditate, pray, pause, and no talking and no electronics! Take some water, sit on the bank of a creek and let your mind wonder. Welcome to nature. She is out there! What are you waiting for?

Happy Aging,

Sue