Chatting about "Nature Bathing" with Breakfast TV Vancouver host Tara Jean Stevens
Last week I spoke to Breakfast TV Vancouver host Tara Jean Stevens about "Nature Bathing" and shared a few tips on how you can easily incorporate healthy habits into your back-to-school/work routine to benefit your mental and physical health!
Watch the video below >>>
Forest Bathing vs. Nature Bathing – what's the difference?
Forest bathing is translated from the Japanese shinrin yoku, which means, to take in the forest atmosphere with all of your senses.
Take in nature with all of your senses:
- sight
- smell
- taste
- hearing
- touch
Nature Bathing expands the Forest Bathing philosophy to encompass all of nature:
- forests
- urban parks
- tree-lined streets
- seaside walks
- sandy beaches
- soily gardens
- salty oceans
- crashing waves
- babbling brooks and rivers
- serene lakes
- crackling campfires
- starry nights
Nature Bathing also includes our daily interactions with nature through:
- the food we eat
- the fabrics we wear
- the beauty products we use
- the design elements in our home
- where we exercise
Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science
Since the beginning of time, humans have sought out and benefited from the healing power of nature.
Many traditional cultures, like the Japanese, understand the incredible benefits to mental and physical health that come with being present and fully aware in beautiful, natural surroundings.
Modern science is finally catching onto this ancient wisdom and providing data on why nature is so critical to our overall wellbeing.
Chronic stress is a significant detriment to our mental and physical health.
Nature can provide an antidote.
Nature Bathing decreases stress hormone cortisol and increases feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin
Spending mindful time in nature helps reduce stress.
It's like taking a little time-out from the chronic busyness and urgency of work and life.
Chronically elevated cortisol levels can deplete our immunity, mess with our digestion, dull our libido, slow down our metabolism, and dampen our creativity.
Spending mindful time in nature boosts mood, and much more.
Nature Bathing, especially the physically-active kind (walking, running, swimming, cycling, etc), increases serotonin, which has been shown to improve mood, digestion, desire, metabolism and cognitive function.
Connect with nature through The Life Delicious' 5 pillars of wellness:
- Mindset
- practice mindfulness (engaging all your senses in the present moment), which calms the nervous system and inspires creativity
- Movement
- practice #GreenExercise: get outside and move your body any way you like
- Nutrition
- practice connecting with your food by getting to know your farmers (or growing your own food!), and eating locally, in-season
- Sleep
- practice dimming your lights or using candle light, and dimming or shutting down your screens (computer, phone, TV) as the sun sets
- Connection
- practice connecting with nature (whether you're walking to school/work, or hiking in the wilderness): take off your shoes and feel the sand/dirt/grass between your toes; float in the ocean or a lake; inhale the spectacular smells; gaze at the moon and stars