Forest Bathing: Here's My Honest Opinion on It

glamour.com:

In order to recapture my childhood love of nature, I decided to try out a technique known as forest bathing. I signed up for professional forest bathing at a resort called the .

As soon as I arrived, I immediately felt calmer because the hotel is located in the middle of the most beautiful mountain panorama.Alpiana Green Luxury Dolce Vita Hotel in Lana, South Tyrol, ItalyI soon met expert Berta Pircher in the most beautiful sunshine at the resort reception.“Ready for forest bathing?” she asked me in her velvety, relaxed voice, which immediately made me feel calmer.“Forest bathing is a tradition originating in Japan that allows us to relax in and with nature,” says Pircher. “With the so-called shinrin-yoku, we can detach ourselves from daily stressors, from the sensory overload of the city and daily life, block everything out and concentrate entirely on our senses.” The goal?

To activate our senses and be at one with nature.According to Pircher, the practice originated in Japan. “In Japan, there is a word karoshi, which means death by overwork,” says Pircher. “The diagnosis for many was: You have worked too much, your system has said stop.” In an effort to combat this, trails were created and people were encouraged with promotional initiatives to go into the forest and spend more time in nature.Yes, Pircher tells me, different types of forests offer different experiences.

For example, at the resort they practice “alpine forest bathing,” because they are located in a high mountain area.“Differences can be found, for example, in the trees and plants present, which have different effects on us,” she explains. “The question is: What substances am I exposed to, what surrounds me?