Shinrinyoku (forest bathing) is the Japanese practice of visiting the forest for both physical and mental health benefits. Although the literal definition of shinrinyoku refers to wooded areas, within the ERMELS Method, shinrinyoku refers to any type of nature. With rates of depression and anxiety on the rise and more people struggling with addictions (from alcohol to cell phones), doctors are beginning to prescribe “Vitamin N,” nature.
Do more things that make you forget to check your phone. – Anonymous
Okinawans, like most indigenous people, have a profound reverence for nature and practice animism: the belief that everything has a soul. As the proud great-granddaughter of a shaman, I want to continue to spread the message that nature is a gateway to spirituality for all of us – it always has been and always will be. A study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency found that the average American spends 93% of our time indoors, while 99.99% of our human history has been spent outdoors…. technology has advanced, but our bodies haven’t necessarily adapted. Modern-day society’s disconnect from nature is what caused writer Richard Louv to coin the phrase, “NDD: Nature deficit disorder.” We are meant to be in and of nature, so I encourage you to get creative with your paths to nature:
Spending time in nature allows us to connect with our intuition, which helps us get in tune with the timing of our bodies (when to eat, rest, move, your ERMELS). And I’ll always argue that if you don’t have time for your ERMELS, you don’t have time for anything else. It’s difficult to enjoy your work, connect well with others, or nurture a positive relationship with your body if you don’t approach your health from a holistic standpoint. One of the best ways that I’ve seen this explained is by this aboriginal belief system
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Spending time in nature is about relaxing your agenda, simplifying life, and moving at “earth pace,” rather than in a constant state of stress, hurriedness, and “productivity.” One of the lesser-known secrets of slowing down is that you’ll find yourself doing less, but better, by developing what Richard Louv calls the hybrid mind.
A hybrid mind is capable of switching easily back and forth between spotlight and lantern focus, AKA balancing our physical and digital worlds. Most of our lives are spent in spotlight focus for work, school (think tunnel-vision), whereas lantern focus illuminates a lot of different things at the same time – for example, while in nature you might hear the leaves rustling, see a squirrel bouncing around, and smell the trees, all simultaneously. Your senses take it all in and expand your focus, almost as if you’re removing blinders. That’s why we are so exhausted after a day spent in nature, it’s a lot for our brains to keep up with when nearly all 5 of your senses are simultaneously activated. Ideally, we should focus on balancing our “green/screen” time by prioritizing more time in nature.
Personally, one of the many reasons why I love nature is because while in it, there is no to-do list. There will never be a day when you’re caught up on every email, house chore, while every-person-you-love’s needs are met. “Your inbox will never be empty” and nature forces you to be in the present moment; you can’t do the dishes, you can’t vacuum, and hopefully you don’t have wifi so you can’t “catch up” on anything “real quick.” I struggle as much as the next person with regulating screen time for my family, but being in nature eliminates that option while creating wonderful opportunities for bonding as well as self-discovery, whether you’re five or sixty-five. As human beings, we require stillness, quiet, and rest. It’s against our nature (pun intended) to always be busy or consuming (food, entertainment, etc.) and nature is the perfect remedy for this modern-day struggle.
Assignments:
- Shinrinyoku: link to an interview that I did on forest bathing and this post on how to “love the nature you’re in.”
- Consider ways that you can honor your connection to nature by decreasing your impact on the environment – whether that’s packing your own lunch for work, reducing your water pressure/temperature, recycling, or incorporating more dairy and/or meat-free meals, find small ways to show some love to your mother!
- Try “Animism Aisatsu” on for size: Animism – the belief that nature is a sentient being. Aisatsu: “greeting” in Japanese. When you go outside today, say hello to nature. Audibly or not, just see how it feels to take a second to acknowledge it. Even (especially) if it’s not your favorite type of nature. It’s refreshing and puts me in a much better mood, I hope you try it! You can even say “Ohayo” (good morning in Japanese, pronounced Ohio). 🙂
*** If you are overdue for a vacation and interested in attending my upcoming retreat here in Colorado, get on my mailing list to stay in touch!