The Turning Tide
Awe is what so many of us have lost by staying inside. Worldwide, though, more and more of us are feeling that loss and trying to recapture our sense of oneness with nature. Take shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” a Japanese practice that involves leisurely walks through wooded areas to help reduce stress. Studies show that by consciously focusing on engaging with the environment, forest bathers can boost their immune systems, soothe their nerves, and improve their mood, and sleep. The Forest Agency of Japan coined the term shinrin-yoku in 1982, and the country now has 44 accredited forests.
Many doctors have also picked up on the health benefits of spending time outdoors, some even writing prescriptions for their patients to get out into green spaces and exercise so that they can reap the health rewards. “It’s rare to find a medical intervention that’s free, low-risk, and easy to do,” says Robert Zarr, MD, founder and director of Park Prescription at Unity Health Care and Park Rx Advisor to the National Park Service. “Common sense says you should spend more time outside. But sometimes it’s hard for people to change.”
He adds that he’s seen marked improvements in obesity, asthma, and even ADHD symptoms in his patients who faithfully follow his prescriptions. The change doesn’t have to be huge. Even if you don’t think your local park or backyard garden is exactly awesome, on some level it may be. A meta-analysis of studies from 2010 showed that your mood and self-esteem could improve when you get out into nature and move for as little as five minutes at a time.
Best of all, once you get started, you can get hooked: Exercising outdoors made people feel not just happier, but more likely to repeat the experience regularly, found a study published in Environmental Science and Technology. I know that something keeps drawing me back to my special place every weekend. Perhaps it’s awe. Perhaps it’s peace. Perhaps it’s the joy of feeling part of everything. All I know is, that I wouldn’t have it any other way.
