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Forest bathing improves health

This weekend I went for two outdoor runs. The first was on the city’s bi-path. I took the path through the woods along the river. It was just after dusk had settled in. The air was heavy with the sweet fragrance of rain upon the trees. A light sprinkle peppered the pathway as I jogged along. It was refreshing and comforting. The next day I took a jog through the countryside. The sun warmed the wildflowers growing in the fields and along the gravel of the dirt roadside. The air smelled like happiness and joy.

After both outings I felt calmer, more balanced, and more at peace with life. The weight of other people’s poor choices throughout the week and my alarm over them was lifted. The hectic blizzard of details for my multitudes of work projects momentarily disappeared. My head felt clearer and my body more energized.

What happened in the forest and along the fields that caused the stress to dissipate? It’s not magic but it’s close. It is something called “forest bathing.” And there’s no better place to do it than Alpena.

In a series of comprehensive studies shared by Outside Magazine, scientists have found that when people spend time in natural surroundings – forests, parks and other places with plenty of trees, plants and water – they experience increased immune function. One reason for this is phytoncides, the airborne chemicals that plants emit to protect themselves from rotting and from insects, and which also seem to benefit humans.

The findings from such studies are changing the way progressive societies treat illness and preserve health. In Japan, people visit forests for a therapeutic practice which is called “Shinrin-yoku,” or forest bathing. Signs leading to forest paths state things like, “Walking 20 minutes lowers blood pressure by 5 points or more,” or “A 2 mile walk positively effects the mood for more than 5 hours.” In one study a group of these “forest bathers” were divided in two and they were instructed to do the following:

* On day one, Group 1 was instructed to walk through a forest or wooded area for a few hours. Group 2 was instructed to walk through a city area.

* On the second day the two groups switched places.

The researchers found that being among plants produced lower concentrations of the stress-triggered hormone, cortisol, lower pulse rate, and lower blood pressure. Similar studies also have shown time spent outside allows those struggling with ADHD to have better concentration and score better on tests taken immediately after they spent time outside.

The idea with Shinrin-yoku, a term coined by the Japanese government in 1982 but inspired by ancient practices, is to let nature enter your body through all five senses, including mindfully tasting fresh whole foods or drinking tea. Currently, Japan has more than 40 designated “Forest Therapy Trails.” Visitors to the trails are routinely checked for things like blood pressure levels, in an ongoing effort to further validate and support these findings. The country hopes to have closer to 100 designated Forest Therapy Trails within the next 10 years.

Japanese scientists are on the frontline of knowing how green spaces calm the body and brain. While psychological research in recent decades validates that spending time in nature improves cognition, relieves anxiety and depression, and even boosts empathy. Scientists in Japan are measuring what’s actually happening to our cells and neurons when we spend time in nature. Led by Yoshifumi Miyazaki from the University of Chiba and Qing Li from the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, they’re using field tests, hormone analysis, and new brain-imaging technology to uncover how the “nature magic” works on a molecular level.

Lucky for us, Alpena is a unique and special place where opportunities for Forest Bathing are literally around every corner. The challenge to us is to learn how to incorporate these opportunities into our everyday lives. Tips for incorporating Forest Bathing into your everyday life:

* Drink your morning coffee on the porch;

* Open the windows and let a breeze clear stagnant air from your house;

* Walk or ride a bike to work;

* Take your lunch at one of the many city or township parks in the region;

* Pack a picnic dinner and head to one of our three nearby State parks;

* Bring back the after-dinner walk; or,

* Sit in your backyard and watch the stars come out at night.

For some, the outdoors are a part of daily life; so much so that it isn’t viewed as anything special. For others, lifestyle and work factors make it difficult to spend time in nature. The outdoors are an integral component of being human. Fortunately for us in Alpena, we have a plethora of options!

Mary Beth Stutzman’s Inspiring A-Town runs bi-weekly on Tuesdays. Follow Mary Beth on Twitter @mbstutz.

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