How do you relax after a stressful day in the office? There are many ways to help you relax. It takes a little effort to get there but the benefits are great for our stressed-out lives. I am talking about the activity of forest bathing.
It was introduced as a national health programme by the country's government. Stressed Japanese workers are today still relaxing and reconnecting with nature. The Forest Therapy Society has certified 62 forest therapy sites in the country and the forest bathing movement is also booming in other parts of the world. It says, "Just as bathing in a hot spring helps to soak your cares away, going for a walk in the woods is said to have a comforting effect."
Forest bathing is about taking time to wander through woodland with no fixed plan or route and just expose yourself to the forest atmosphere. That's particularly good for people with mental health issues. A study conducted in 24 forests across Japan found that walking among trees lowered blood pressure, the pulse rate, thus improving our immune systems.
Another study carried out a few years ago by Stanford University in the US, found similar benefits. Brain scans showed reduced activity in an area of the brain linked to the risk of mental illness in participants who took a 90-minute walk among oaks, birds and squirrels. One of the researchers, Gregory Bratman, said, "There's an increasing body of evidence showing that natural areas benefit us at least emotionally with our mood and our physical development too. "The evidence seems clear that forest bathing is a shot in the arm for stressed-out workers. So now is the time to get out and lose yourself in the natural environment,
A. But the best way lies in the great outdoors.
B. Connecting with nature has never been more urgent.
C. Forest bathing is rising in popularity around the world.
D. Having this exposure to nature seems to promote well-being.
E. You could even hug a tree as it could be your new best friend!
F. The Japanese concept of forest bathing dates back to the 1980s.
G. It also found forest bathing can decrease stress. anxiety, and depression.
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