BOOM Healing: Get your forest on!
This is my first blog post and I have written it from my heart, as I intend to do with all future ones.
So why a blog about Forests then? Hasn’t Forest Bathing been covered? Doesn’t everyone know it’s good for you? Yes, yes, and yes – forest bathing has been well covered. But for me, it has a deeper connection.
For as long as I can remember the forest has been my safe and secure place. I can often be found meandering a trail with my dog. For years I have immersed myself in the forest’s peace, ease, and beauty and felt its benefits deep within my body and soul. I am sensitive and neurodivergent; the forest and nature have been my sanctuary. I have always dreamt of opening a forest-based clinic and in 2021 this became a reality when my husband and I purchased our home and property in Anmore. Quickly after purchase, I was faced with defining my therapy practice and it led me into the world of Forest Bathing, Shinrin-Yoku.
I was fascinated to learn that Shinrin-Yoku originated in Japan in response to a health crisis of stress-related illness and that Japanese physicians were prescribing Shinrin-Yoku as therapy. Furthermore, I was thrilled to learn that it has decades of research backing it and is now practiced worldwide. Two hours with the trees gives participants about 30 days of health benefits including such things as – increased positive feelings, memory, immunity, and quality of sleep; decreased blood pressure, stress hormones and stress-related illness, and blood sugar levels; and a lift in depressive symptoms. But if two hours in the forest is not realistic for some people or accessible, short park visits and bringing plants and diffusing tree phytoestrogens / essential oils indoors, also have these healing benefits.
Over the few years that my little clinic has been open, I have often sent clients articles on forest bathing and encouraged them to take a forest walk after a therapy session. But today something deeper connected for me – I understood that my little clinic is special and unique because of its forest-based location. I always knew this, but this knowing settled in at a profound level. Clients not only benefit from spending time in therapy, but they also leave with a goodie bag full of healing from nature. Furthermore, clients have echoed this back to me over the years and can often be heard saying things like “I feel so at ease here,” “the energy here is special, it feels like magic,” or my favourite “when I come to the clinic it is like I get surrounded by a bubble of ease, safety, and security and I get to take it with me when I leave.” Yes, there is something special here at my little clinic in the woods and I suspect the trees are a big part of creating the incredible feeling clients receive and talk about when they are here.
On a deeply personal note, I want to mention that Shinrin-Yoku is special to me as it connects me with my son’s origin, he is Japanese. Shinrin-Yoku is something that I can offer him from his culture as he grows up. It is something I hope he carries with him throughout life – returning to the forest every day if possible and living immersed or nearby.
So when you are thinking about booking a therapy appointment at BOOM Healing and have the option of online or in person, consider getting yourself here to experience the gifts this special place has to offer. Go home with a ‘goody bag’ of ease, security, and healing given freely and lovingly by the trees.
Resources on Shinrin-Yoku
Video:
The Art and Science of Forest Bathing with Dr. Qing Li, Penguin Books UK, April 2018 https://youtu.be/12CCjoixpkA
Forest Bathing: Rooted in Science. By AMI Accessible Media Inc., November 2020 – https://youtu.be/EsjGYl-SJy4
Books:
Miyazaki, Yoshifumi. 2018. Timber Press. “Shinrin Yoku: The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing”
Li, Qing. 2018. Penguin Press. “The Art and Science of Forest Bathing, How Tress can help you find Health and Happiness”