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This concept is also known as Shinrin-yoku, a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It has been a part of Asian cultures for centuries and has been empirically studied for more than a decade. Forest therapy walks are not hikes in the traditional sense. They encapsulate a wide range of experiences. The benefits of contact with nature include improved cognition, memory, immunity, and attention, as well as increased feelings of prosociality, sense of purpose, spiritual connection, and quality of life.
We come into the world wired to connect. With our first breath, we embark on a lifelong quest to feel safe in our bodies and in our environments. Our body has neuroreceptors that notice vibrations, sounds, visuals, smells and invisible vibrations that are picked up by our inbuilt sensory system. The autonomic nervous system is the foundation of all our experiences and we can only heal when we relax - feeling safe and connected - Enter Mother Nature. The polyvagal theory emphasizes that this fine tuning regulatory system opens up a role for the environment to foster and ameliorate stress related physiological states. Our nervous system continues to be shaped by experiences and nature immersion is the answer.
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