A walk for your health.
We are always looking for new ways to relax. New apps, new pillows, new diets, but what about nature as your medicine? A therapeutic Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku is a term that means, “taking in the forest atmosphere” or “forest bathing”. It is the art and science of how trees can promote health and happiness.
Dr. Qing Li, the leading expert in forest medicine, shows how forest bathing can reduce stress levels and blood pressure, strengthen the immune and cardiovascular systems, increase the ability to focus (even in children with ADHD), boost energy, creativity, and concentration, as well as improve sleep.
Numerous studies are also showing real health benefits. One study in particular involved taking blood samples from walkers/hikers over a three-day trip. On the first day, 2 hours of walking in the forest field was required. On the second day, walking two hours in the morning and afternoon in a different forest. Blood samples were taken before and after the exercise routine and results were astonishing. Almost all the walkers/hikers had a 50% increase in natural killer (NK) cells and anti-cancer proteins. The NK cells are a mix of T-cells and perforin, which is released by the immune system that targets and kills infected cells. It plays a vital role in protecting your immune system. These are impressive results that a gentle walk amongst the trees can offer to our body.
What else is Mother Nature offering to us? You simply get to unplug. You begin to utilize all your senses from hearing the birds sing, to getting Vitamin D from the sunlight, smelling the fragrance of the forest, to touching the leaves and bark. This sense of calmness allows us to have a state of mind that is also calm and relaxed. When you connect with nature, you connect with happiness.
Don’t have PayPal? You can simply choose to use any one of your other credit or debit cards at the point of the PayPal checkout.