guide to forest bathing

We all know how good being in nature can make us feel. We have known it for centuries. The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air — these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us. But what exactly is this feeling that is so hard to put into words?

In Japan, there is a practise called forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku. Shinrin in Japanese means “forest,” and yoku means “bath.” So shinrin-yoku means bathing in the forest atmosphere, or taking in the forest through our senses. This simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you whilst breathing deeply can help both adults and children de-stress and boost health and wellbeing in a natural way.

So how does one go about forest bathing?

For starters, you can plan a day trip to Serrano Nature Resort on any of the weekends. You can do the bookings by clicking in the link here. There are some beginners tips on forest bathing for you to know below :-

Beginner Tips for Forest Bathing

  1. Turn off your devices to give yourself the best chance of relaxing, being mindful and enjoying a sensory forest-based experience.
  2. Slow down. Move through the forest slowly so you can see and feel more.
  3. Take long breaths deep into the abdomen. Extending the exhalation of air to twice the length of the inhalation sends a message to the body that it can relax.
  4. Stop, stand or sit, smell what’s around you, what can you smell?
tips
tips
  1. Take in your surroundings using all of your senses. How does the forest environment make you feel? Be observant, look at nature’s small details.
  2. Sit quietly using mindful observation; try to avoid thinking about your to-do list or issues related to daily life. You might be surprised by the number of wild forest inhabitants you see using this process.
  3. Keep your eyes open. The colours of nature are soothing and studies have shown that people relax best while seeing greens and blues.

Where should I go to forest bathe?

With Serrano Nature Resort just an hour and half drive away from Chandni Chowk in Pune (or 3 ½ hours if you are driving from Mumbai), you're actually quite close to a forest cover area. You can follow the Google Map here for accurate directions.

We’d recommend visiting outside of peak hours (ideally a weekday) for optimum quiet time. Try forest bathing early on a weekday morning or on a weekday afternoon

Who is forest bathing suitable for?

Forest bathing exercises can be great fun for adults and children alike and useful in teaching concentration and mindfulness; whilst also providing an excellent opportunity to learn from each other.


Published by Team Serrano

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