When Nature is the Best Medicine
I had the best time hiking in Muir Woods last week!
Ahead of a friend-trip to Napa, CA, I arrived a few days early for some restorative ‘me time.’ And I can’t even tell you, but I’m going to try, I had the coolest experience! I am a huge fan of hiking, but Muir Woods National Monument was something all on its own. I walked the boardwalk trails to Ben Johnson, then took the Dipsea loop back to the visitor center. It was an experience I will never forget.
It was one of those moments where you know that, as gorgeous as the pictures you take are, you could never capture the true size and majesty of your surroundings. As I walked the path, my neck grew sore from constant maneuvering to get a better look, a new angle on these redwoods and how the sun so marvelously painted the scene around me. As Earthly as it was, I almost felt like I stepped onto another planet; my scale of color, size, and atmosphere just didn’t apply. In short, I was in awe.
At the peak of my hike I found a fallen tree on the path, and decided to sit down, soak up the sunny rays and reward myself for the successful upward climb. I lingered there for a good while, entertained by the chipmunks playing nearby, hawks flying overhead, and, for the first time in months, the warmth of the sun on my skin. When I finally got up to continue my hike, I noticed a major shift in my inner state. I felt refreshed, grounded, energized, playful. I truly finished my hike with a spring in my step. Even though I still carried my backpack with me, it was like I’d left all my baggage at that fallen tree trunk.
The sun as my barrette :)
I’m amazed at how quickly nature heals us simply by being present in it. It’s a big reason why I’m so interested in the mutual influences of our personal wellbeing and the physical environments in which we spend our time. It seems that whatever we build, perform, or design, we both take our inspiration from, yet can never seem to surpass the beauty, efficiency, power, and connectedness of nature.
‘Forest bathing’ or ‘Shinrin-Yoku,’ is an exercise developed in Japan in the 1980’s as an antidote to tech-boom burnout, and has since inspired several studies on the benefits of being out in nature. The Global Wellness Institute holds a number of studies that show diverse physio- and psychological benefits we gain from time in forest environments. You may expect to hear people feel less stressed in nature, and that’s certainly true - cortisol (stress hormone) levels, pulse rate, and blood pressure were all found to be lower than participants who spent their time in a non-forest environment. But forest bathing also helps strengthen the immune system, calm the nervous system, lower the risk for some cancers, and can even help individuals better manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and COPD.
The best part of it is, even a single, relatively short forest experience still gives measurable improvements! After one 2-hour stay in the forest, study participants lowered their pulse rate and blood pressure and were better able to manage their emotions, walking away with an improved mood and lowered anxiety.
I certainly did. I had such a magical experience at Muir Woods, and it has inspired me to carve out a few more nature therapy sessions this year. Katie + forests = love :)
