Forest Bathing +
ABOUT
Forest Bathing
Forest Bathing involves slowly immersing or bathing in the woodland atmosphere (no swimsuits needed!). It is an invitation to slowly move from your mind with its never-ending stream of thoughts and worries into the present moment, the opportunity to simply 'be'.
We will go on a slow paced-walk through the healing
woodland landscape, pausing to connect with the nature around us through sensory-based activities. This will culminate in the 'treelaxtion' at the end of the session, a time for deep-relaxation under the tree canopy.
Research indicates that forest bathing can have numerous health benefits including:
-Reduction in blood pressure
-Lowers stress levels
-Improves energy levels and mood
-Boosts the immune system
-Improves the quality of sleep
FOREST BATHING activities YOU CAN TRY:
Fractal patterns are similar, repeating patterns found in nature. These patterns are particularly pleasing to humans and by looking closely at fractal patterns it can reduce stress. Fractal patterns in nature include things like the spiral patterns in pine cones and branching patterns in trees and rivers.
Prompt:
Go outside (or from a window) and find a tree to look at. Spend 5 minutes bringing your awareness to the shape of the tree.
Bring your eyesight to the trunk of the tree and then slowly move up the trunk to the thicker branches.
Follow these until you reach a smaller branch and then again follow until you reach a twig and so on.
Enjoy taking in the beautiful shape of the tree and appreciate how its branches are placed to best reach the light.
Fractal patterns
Nature's Music
Nature is filled with beautiful sounds and music which helps to calm us down. For example, listening to birdsong lowers cortisol (stress hormone) levels and this could have evolutionary reasons, as our ancestors associated bird song with safe environments (as birds would not be singing if there were predators around). One of my favourite sounds is the sound of the wind in the leaves of trees and aprt of the inspiration for the name leaf and light.
Prompt:
Go outside or open a window. Find somewhere comfortable to sit and close your eyes.
Bring your focus to sounds you can hear, what sounds are presenting themselves to you?
Which sound are you particularly drawn to? Stay with this sound and really investigate it with your ears.
How does the silence around the sound add to it? How does the sound you were drawn to compare to the sounds around it?
Is the sound different if you open your eyes and listen to it?
