Welcome to The Forest Is Doing More Than You Think.
Have you ever walked into a woodland and felt something change?
Maybe your breathing has become a little easier.
Your thoughts best demanding.
And your shoulders,
They relax without you even realizing they were tense.
Somehow,
Surrounded by trees,
You begin to feel more like yourself.
And I've often wondered why this happens.
Why is it that a simple walk beneath the trees can leave us feeling so different from when we arrived?
Is it the fresh air?
The birdsong?
The beautiful patterns of sunlight moving through the branches?
Or could there be something else happening?
Something within our bodies that we cannot necessarily see or feel.
I'd love to share some fascinating research with you that might help us understand this beautiful connection between ourselves and the natural world.
And maybe by the end of this time together,
You'll look at your next woodland walk a little differently.
So in Japan,
There is a practice known as Shinrin-yoku,
Which translates as forest bathing.
Despite the name,
There's no water involved.
It's simply the practice of spending time among trees,
Just allowing yourself to experience the forest through your senses.
And there is no rushing through it.
No counting steps or trying to reach a particular destination but it's just being present in this natural environment.
Japanese immunologist Dr.
Quynh Le has spent more than 20 years studying the effects of forests on human health.
And some of his findings are quite remarkable.
In a series of small studies,
Researchers discovered that spending time in forest environments was associated with increased activity of something called natural killer cells.
Now these are particularly interesting part of our immune system.
These natural cells or NK cells,
They help our bodies recognize and respond to certain infected or abnormal cells.
You might think of them as part of your body's natural surveillance system.
And in some of Dr.
Lee's research,
NK cell activity increased substantially after forest visits.
And in certain studies,
Increases of around 50% were reported.
And some changes were still detectable several days afterwards.
And I think that is so fascinating.
But it's also important to remember that these were small studies,
And an increase in immune cell activity doesn't necessarily mean that someone will become healthier or less likely to develop an illness.
So there's still so much for scientists to discover.
Nevertheless,
These findings raise an intriguing question.
What is it about forests?
That might influence our immune systems.
Well,
Here is where the story becomes even more interesting.
Because trees,
They release natural substances into the air called phytoncides.
And these are part of the trees own protective system.
Which helps it defend itself against insects and microorganisms.
So different trees release different combinations of these compounds.
And as we walk through a woodland,
We're breathing in tiny amounts of them.
And some research suggests that certain phyton slides may influence immune cell activity.
Isn't that extraordinary?
We tend to think of trees as something outside ourselves.
Something we admire,
Photograph,
Touch or sit beneath on a warm afternoon.
Yet there may be these subtle biological interactions taking place simply because we're sharing the same environment.
Of course,
Scientists are still exploring how significant these effects are in everyday life.
I love the thought that a forest is so much more than a collection of trees.
It's a living environment.
It's full of relationships and exchanges,
Many of which remain invisible to us.
There's another part of this research that I find particularly meaningful.
Studies that are comparing forest environments with urban settings have found that time among trees can be associated with lower heart rates,
Reduced blood pressure,
And changes in stress-related hormones.
Maybe this is where the science begins to meet our own experience.
Because many of us already know how different we can feel after spending time in nature.
Think about the sounds of a woodland,
The gentle rustling of leaves.
The occasional call of a birth.
The gentle breeze moving through the branches.
Nothing here that is really demanding our attention.
So maybe our nervous system responds to that.
Because we spend so much of our lives surrounded by stimulation.
Those conversations,
Responsibilities,
Constant information.
And even when we're resting.
Our minds can be still remarkably busy.
So,
The forest,
It offers us something different.
A place where our attention can soften.
Where we can notice rather than analyze.
Where we can experience the world without feeling that we need to do anything about it.
And I wonder whether that's part of the reason nature can feel so restorative.
Because for a little while it gives us a different way of being with them.
Something else I really appreciate about forest bathing is that it isn't really about exercise.
Of course,
Walking is wonderful.
But at the heart of the practice is awareness.
You can sit beneath a tree,
Rest on a woodland bench,
Or spend just a few quiet moments in your own garden.
Might notice the texture of bark,
The movement of leaves,
The changing light or that wonderful earthy scent after rain.
And sometimes you might simply close your eyes and listen.
There's no particular experience you're supposed to have.
No special state that you need to reach.
And I think that's rather lovely.
Because sometimes so much of modern life encourages us to strive towards something,
To improve,
To achieve,
To become.
But nature doesn't ask that of us.
A tree doesn't need us to be anything other than who we are.
We can arrive there feeling tired,
Distracted,
Joyful,
Sad,
Or uncertain.
But the woodland is still there.
Wherever you are listening today.
Maybe you could take a little moment.
And just allow your body to soften.
See yourself in a peaceful woodland.
It might be somewhere that you've visited before.
Might be a place that you know and love.
Or just woodland that you are creating in your imagination.
Picture all those trees around you,
Some tall and strong,
Others bending gently towards the light.
And just notice those colors.
Beautiful greens,
The soft browns,
And maybe the warm gold and amber of autumn.
There is a beautiful gentle breeze that is moving through the branches.
So just for a moment allow yourself to be there.
This small connection with the natural world.
And you come up to this magnificent oak tree.
You touch the trunk of this tree.
And you wrap your arms around it.
Giving this tree a beautiful hug.
You feel the tree's energy,
The connection.
Connection with this enormous and wonderful tree.
Just take a comfortable breath in here.
And as you breathe out,
Allow a little more softness into your shoulders,
A little more space around your thoughts.
And a little quiet within.
Wonderful.
When you're ready,
Just bring your awareness back to wherever you are listening.
I know that we don't all have easy access to ancient woodlands or beautiful forests.
And even when we do,
There are days when getting out is simply not possible.
Maybe we can begin by noticing the nature that's all around us.
The tree outside a window,
A patch of sunlight falling across the garden,
The changing seasons,
Or the birds that are gathering in the branches.
And these moments,
They will still offer those moments of beauty,
Attention and connection.
And that's where a deeper relationship with nature really begins.
Not with a grand adventure.
But with noticing.
Being aware.
And remembering that we are part of this extraordinary living world.
So now I'd just like to leave you with one thought.
We often speak about the healing power of nature.
And although we need to be careful not to promise that nature can cure illness,
There is growing scientific interest in how natural environments may support our well-being.
And for me that is something deeply comforting.
The idea that something as ordinary as spending time among trees can really support the ability to relax,
Regulate stress and reconnect with ourselves.
And there's a little wisdom in the way that trees live too.
Because they don't rush through the seasons.
They respond to the light.
The weather and the changing world around them.
They rest.
They grow,
They adapt.
So the next time you find yourself beneath a tree,
Maybe stay there a little longer.
Become aware of what's happening around you and aware of what's happening within you.
And remember that sometimes the simplest moments can become the most meaningful.
So thank you so much for sharing this time with me exploring the wonderful and timeless nature with trees.
Until next time,
May you find a little peace beneath the trees,
A little wonder in the natural world,
And a little more space to simply be.
Namaste,
My friend.
