What an amazing month May is! Suddenly the countryside is developing a green hue and blossoms of white and pink pop everywhere. The warmer temperatures and longer days provide an opportunity for two great wellbeing therapies that are easy to do and free – you can even combine them together!
They are both based on the knowledge that people have had for millennia:
- immersing yourself in nature is beneficial emotionally and physically, and
- reconnecting to the natural rhythm of Nature has a healing effect on the
human body.
They are both based on the knowledge that people have had for millennia:
- immersing yourself in nature is beneficial emotionally and physically, and
- reconnecting to the natural rhythm of Nature has a healing effect on the
human body.
The first therapy is the Japanese Art of ‘Shinrin-yoku’, translated as ‘Forest Bathing’. This means nothing more than finding a forest and immersing yourself in its environment.
Put your mobile phone, camera and earbuds aside for a while so you can mindfully take in the atmosphere around you. Use all the senses; being aware of what you can see and smell, touch, taste and hear.
You can wander among the trees, sit beneath them, stand beneath them – anything that helps you connect with them and the natural environment. If you can’t easily access a forest, you can find a single tree and spend some mindful time close to that.
Although there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest this practise is beneficial it has also been the subject of scientific research. It is actively encouraged as a wellness benefit in Japan and research has shown that trees release beneficial phytoncides into their surrounding atmosphere.
These chemicals are protective so have properties like being anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and may be why scientists have determined that, in addition to a positive impact on Blood Pressure and the reduction of stress hormone levels, Forest Bathing can enhance immunity too.
Put your mobile phone, camera and earbuds aside for a while so you can mindfully take in the atmosphere around you. Use all the senses; being aware of what you can see and smell, touch, taste and hear.
You can wander among the trees, sit beneath them, stand beneath them – anything that helps you connect with them and the natural environment. If you can’t easily access a forest, you can find a single tree and spend some mindful time close to that.
Although there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest this practise is beneficial it has also been the subject of scientific research. It is actively encouraged as a wellness benefit in Japan and research has shown that trees release beneficial phytoncides into their surrounding atmosphere.
These chemicals are protective so have properties like being anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and may be why scientists have determined that, in addition to a positive impact on Blood Pressure and the reduction of stress hormone levels, Forest Bathing can enhance immunity too.
The second wonderful, free and easy wellness therapy is ‘Grounding’ and is no more difficult than taking off your shoes and socks and finding a space where you can connect your bare skin directly with the Earth. Standing on a surface of grass, gravel, dirt, sand or concrete will all do the trick.
Again, lots of anecdotal evidence for feeling great running or walking along a beach barefoot but the science behind this therapy is that everything has a frequency – including us and the Earth’s surface.
Many illness symptoms are caused by inflammation – in energetic terms: ‘positively charged inflammatory free radicals’. The Earth’s surface, due to the influence of solar radiation, lightning strikes and energy generated by its inner core, has a negative charge. The body, being a good conductor of energy, can be helped by allowing the negative charge of the earth to act on the positive charge of inflammation through standing barefoot on its surface.
Connecting in an energetic way to the Earth helps to attune our own individual frequency which impacts our emotional and physical health.
Again, lots of anecdotal evidence for feeling great running or walking along a beach barefoot but the science behind this therapy is that everything has a frequency – including us and the Earth’s surface.
Many illness symptoms are caused by inflammation – in energetic terms: ‘positively charged inflammatory free radicals’. The Earth’s surface, due to the influence of solar radiation, lightning strikes and energy generated by its inner core, has a negative charge. The body, being a good conductor of energy, can be helped by allowing the negative charge of the earth to act on the positive charge of inflammation through standing barefoot on its surface.
Connecting in an energetic way to the Earth helps to attune our own individual frequency which impacts our emotional and physical health.
If you are interested to understand more about the physics of frequencies between the Earth and the body read:
‘Earthing. The most important health discovery ever?’ by Clinton Ober, Stephen T Sinatra MD and Martin Zucker.
There you have it, find a space, connect with Nature and feel the benefit for free.
If you can stand among some trees barefoot you can have double the value!
‘Earthing. The most important health discovery ever?’ by Clinton Ober, Stephen T Sinatra MD and Martin Zucker.
There you have it, find a space, connect with Nature and feel the benefit for free.
If you can stand among some trees barefoot you can have double the value!
