Podcast #41: Forest Bathing - The Mental Health Benefits of Nature

In this week’s podcast I talk about my personal experiences with forest bathing, noting its positive impact on my mental well-being, especially compared to urban environments and then get into to the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, emphasizing the mindful immersion in nature and looking at a scientific investigation into the physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku through field experiments across 24 Japanese forests. This study objectively measured indicators like cortisol levels, blood pressure, and heart rate, finding that forest environments promote relaxation and lower stress compared to city settings.Loved this episode? You can find extra goodies, gentle tools, and printable doses of wonder over in my Ko-fi shop. You can also buy me a coffee to help support me. Every purchase supports this quiet corner of the internet and helps keep the podcast going. Thank you for being here. 💛References:https://medium.com/mindful-mental-health/the-mental-health-benefits-of-forest-bathing-b70a0a699a4ahttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19568835/#:~:text=The%20term%20Shinrin%2Dyoku%20was,the%20atmosphere%20of%20the%20forest Get full access to Dose of Wonder at caitlinmccoll.substack.com/subscribe