Peace in Nature
Ah, stress. The antecedent to a lot of our troubles. It raises our cortisol levels, it can increase inflammation, put strain on our cardiovascular systems, and cause chronic disease.Stress is a real bear when it comes to our health. Well, not a real bear, because bears seem to take care of themselves better than humans. And maybe that’s because they live in nature, while we live in offices and cars surrounded by pavement.
Keeping all that in mind and as summer beckons us outside, today’s topic is Backyard Bathing. Now, before you get your panties in a wad, let me make it clear that backyard bathing includes the wearing of panties, as well as every other garment you would normally wear in public. This is not an exposé, in any sense of the word.
Backyard Bathing is my suburban takeoff on Forest Bathing (also not an exposé), a therapeutic practice developed in Japan in the 1980s as massive development and work stresses were steamrolling the country and keeping its growingly tense population inside. Shinrin-yoku, as it’s known in Japan, is a method for healing the mind and body through nature.
Forest Bathing is a mindful practice of slowing down to connect with nature (trees in particular) by using most of our senses: vision, hearing, touch, and smell. I don’t recommend taste. My general rule of thumb is it’s not a good idea to taste anything in the woods unless you’re an experienced, educated forager, and you know for sure what you’re tasting. But that may just be me not wanting to die.
Trees put off compounds known as phytoncides, pronounced fight-on-sides, that are their defense against pathogens and insects. Luckily for us, though, studies have shown that this tree defense system can give a kickstart to our immune systems, improve our moods, and even help with our sleep quality. Studies have shown that breathing in phytoncides lower cortisol levels. Though cortisol is an important hormone in our bodies at appropriate levels, continuously high cortisol from chronic stress can increase inflammation and insulin resistance, so it behooves us to keep those levels under control.
Another benefit of phytoncides is to encourage natural killer cells in our bodies. While the mere thought of “killer cells” roaming our bodies could bring on the stress that drives up our cortisol levels (I mean, what the heck is going on in there?!), killer cells are important in fighting infections and tumors.
These phytoncides sound pretty good, so you may be wondering, can’t we just bottle this stuff and mix it into a cocktail with a pretty pink paper umbrella?
Well, no. Like most things in life, you must work for this – if working means taking a few deep breaths and relaxing near trees. We’re fortunate on this street to be wrapped in greenery. Most of us have trees on our property, and we’re blessed with a lovely greenspace that Mary Sigafus, Bill Holland and their family generously allow us to enjoy. If we can’t find the time to find a forest to rest our souls in (though our county has many wooded options), we can do it right here in the neighborhood.
Nearly 20,000 people who participated in a study in the United Kingdom reported improvements in their health and sense of well-being after spending at least two hours a week in nature. It doesn’t have to be two consecutive hours either. A short break here and there over the course of a week seems to have the same results. One caveat though. This isn’t about storming through the woods on an intense hike from Point A to Point Z or trying to document and identify everything you see. This is about relaxation, about slowing down, thinking less and feeling more. Sit with your back against a tree, whether it’s in a forest or in your backyard, and take deep, cleansing breaths. Close your eyes, tune your ears to the sounds of birds and squirrels. Open your eyes and enjoy the sight of squirrels playing, of flowers tossed in a light breeze, of sunlight dappling the landscape beneath the canopy. Feel the roughness of the bark or the smoothness of a blade of grass. Sniff a flower. Observe an insect’s path on the ground next to you. Take it in and realize that you are very much connected to every tree, flower, animal, and insect that shares this space with you.
Shinrin-yoku is a practice to help you find peace in the moment, that enhances creativity, empathy and improves relationships. And who couldn’t use some of that these days?
If you see me with my back against a tree and a smile on my face, just wave and pass on by. I’ll be soothing my soul with a long, cleansing forest bath. Or join me.
Fully clothed, of course.
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