Forest Bathing: Why Time in the Trees Can Change How You Feel

Aug 6

Have you ever noticed how different you feel after spending time outside? Maybe it’s just a short walk, or sitting under a tree, but something shifts. The air feels lighter, your body loosens, and the noise in your mind quiets down.

That’s the essence of forest bathing, an intentional practice of slowing down, engaging your senses, and letting nature do what it does best: restore.

What Forest Bathing Is (and Where It Came From)

Forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, began in Japan in the early 1980s. The phrase translates to “taking in the forest atmosphere” or “bathing in the forest.” It wasn’t about exercise or hiking - it was about connection.

It emerged as a public health response to growing rates of stress, burnout, and illness in Japan’s increasingly urban and industrialized culture. The Japanese government actually promoted forest bathing as part of its national health program, encouraging citizens to spend time in nature for stress reduction and overall well-being (Harvard Health Publishing, Silvotherapy, PMC).

Over time, Japanese physicians began prescribing forest bathing to patients as a preventative and therapeutic health measure. Research institutes were established to study its effects, and today, Shinrin-yoku is still integrated into Japan’s healthcare system as a recognized way to support mental and physical health.

Why It’s Helpful

Science has since caught up to what many of us feel instinctively. Studies on forest bathing show that spending time in wooded or green spaces can:

Lower stress hormones like cortisol and reduce blood pressure and heart rate (Harvard Health Publishing).
Support immune health by boosting natural killer (NK) cells, which help fight infections and disease (PMC).
Improve mood and reduce anxiety or depression, offering calm and emotional balance (Frontiers in Public Health).
Enhance focus and clarity by reducing mental fatigue and rumination (PMC).
Improve sleep quality and help with recovery from stress (Harvard Health Publishing).

And these aren’t just temporary perks. Some of the effects, like immune support and lowered stress, can last for days after you’ve left the forest (Harvard Health Publishing).

How to Do It

The beauty of forest bathing is that it doesn’t take much. You don’t need special gear, a wilderness retreat, or a whole day free. You just need presence and a patch of green.

Here’s how you might begin:

Find a natural setting. A forest is ideal, but a park, garden, or even a cluster of trees works.
Slow down. This isn’t about exercise. Stroll gently or sit. Leave your phone on silent.
Engage your senses. Look at the shapes of the leaves. Breathe in the smell of soil and pine. Listen for birds or the wind in the branches. Feel the bark of a tree.
Stay present. When your mind wanders, come back to what’s around you. Notice, breathe, notice again.
Give it time. Even 15-20 minutes makes a difference. Longer sessions (an hour or two) can deepen the effect.

There’s no right or wrong way. The point is to be with the forest, not to perform or achieve anything.

Why It Matters

We live in a world that constantly pushes us to go faster, produce more, and stay plugged in. It’s no wonder we feel burned out, restless, or like we can’t quite catch our breath.

Our nervous systems didn’t evolve with the constant technology, distractions, and information overload we face today. For most of human history, we were naturally connected to the rhythms of the natural world. Now, we often have to create intentional habits to give our bodies and minds what used to come effortlessly.

Think about exercise. A hundred years ago, daily life involved far more physical activity - walking, carrying, farming, or manual work. Today, because most of us sit at desks or in cars, we build exercise into our routines through gyms, sports, or workouts. In the same way, forest bathing is a practice that fills in what our modern lives no longer provide: an unstructured, sensory connection with nature.

When you let yourself belong to the natural world, even briefly, it becomes easier to find presence in your own life too.

Moving Forward

If you’re feeling worn down, heavy, or disconnected, forest bathing might be one of the simplest ways to support yourself. And if you want to take it further, therapy can be a place to explore how practices like this fit into your unique rhythms and needs.

If you’re looking for therapy in Golden, Colorado, I’d love to walk alongside you. Together, we can explore what helps you feel grounded and connected - in nature, in relationships, and in yourself.