“Shinrin yoku,” or “forest bathing” in Japanese, is an ancient practice that brings us back to our most fundamental connection with nature. The term itself translates as “smell the scent of the forest,” but its secrets lie in a deeper experience—a mental spring where slow steps among the trees become a form of meditation without the need for complex formulations.
The origins of Shinrin yoku date back to the 1980s in Japan, when the emperor and scientists nationwide realized that direct exposure to forests reduced the stress levels of urban populations. Since then, hundreds of forest stations have opened for visitors, who are taught to walk in silence, stopping to focus on the scent of the trunk and the sound of leaves swaying in the wind.
During a Shinrin yoku session, the steps are unhurried. Each breath is an invitation to ease the tension of the day, to feel the way the sun shines through the branches and the energy of the trees circulates in the air. The key point is “mindfulness”—being fully present in the natural environment, eliminating the mental noises that often keep the mind in “alarm mode.”
Modern studies have confirmed that forest bathing reduces levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, while promoting the activation of NK cells, which are essential for our immunity. A mindful walk in the forest can translate into a stronger immune system and a calmer state of mind, improving sleep and concentration in daily life.
Welcome to the Japanese recipe for well-being: to breathe deeply among the trees, you need nothing more than a little time, a slow step and the desire to listen to nature. A sign of the courage to stop, listen and reflect, “Shinrin yoku” teaches us that relief from stress often lies just a step away from the leaves that crisscross the green paths.
