Wow, do we ever need a way to self-calm now! First it’s
Covid-19, then it’s riots. What next? As a healer, I’m always looking for ways
to help people calm themselves. A significant part of my practice is spent
teaching these skills to my clients.
So today I want to talk about something that puts you in a
better mood, decreases stress hormones, helps you recover from illness faster,
lowers blood pressure, boosts your immune system, and helps you become more
creative. Sound too good to be true? It’s not!
The secret is Shinrin-Yoku. What in the world is that? It’s
Japanese for “forest bathing,” and believe it or not, there’s science behind
it. Much study is going on today on this
rather strange topic, and everything I mentioned above is backed up with usually
multiple studies. Don’t take my word for it, read up on it for yourself. https://www.forestholidays.co.uk/activities/forest-bathing/benefits/#:~:text=The%20Japanese%20practice%20of%20shinrin,and%20accelerate%20recovery%20from%20illness.
It comes as no surprise to many of us who like the outdoors.
For years people have gone to the woods to escape stress. But now, we can put
words and studies to it. Did you know that phytoncides are
emitted from trees, that strengthen our immune system and help us fight
disease? I didn’t, but that piece of knowledge is pleasant to my soul as I walk
in the woods. Even just a few trees are beneficial, study after study shows.
Speaking
of walking, I came across an article by Michael W. Pirrone on Hiking. What Hiking Does for
the Brain is Pretty Amazing https://muckrack.com/michael-w-pirrone/articles
He makes the same claims for hiking, even just walking! It “clears your head”
or lowers your level of brooding. How? By decreasing the flow to the part of
the brain associated with bad moods. (the subgenual prefrontal cortex in case
you wanted to know). This lowers your perception of stress, and makes you feel
much better and able to handle it.
Pirrone
also cites studies that show hiking causes people to be 50% more creative.
Creative problem solving can be measured by a test, called the Remote
Associates Test. Hiking also improves memory, and gives those with ADHD much
better focus.
Best of all (I think, because I deal with it so much), it raises self esteem! There’s such a need for this today. Depression and anxiety have sky-rocketed. Kids
are killing themselves at a higher rate than ever before. Do you know the top
three ways to beat depression? The are 1) a friend 2) exercise/walking and 3)
therapy and medication. So, the fact that taking a walk is in the top three,
really says something (and it’s free!).
So,
yes, Mr. Pirrone, I have to agree with you, that “what hiking (walking) does
for the brain is pretty amazing.” And to the Japanese who have pioneered in the
study of Shinrin-Yoku, my hat’s off to you.
One
of the positive things about the quarantine has been seeing families walking
together all around our neighborhoods. When we go back to work, let’s not get
too busy to walk outside.
My 6 & 8 year granddaughters walked a mile and a
half the other morning. I thought that was pretty good, until my friend told me
that her 7 year old grandson hiked 8 miles on the Superior trail! Oh well, we
would do well not to compare ourselves to others. Just do what we can do, and
strive for improvement. Compete against ourselves, not each other.
So, make it a priority to walk, to hike, to get out in Nature. You’ll feel better, and will NOT regret it a bit!
