Before the heat and humidity of a summer in West Tennessee hits, it’s enjoyable for me to spend as much time outdoors as possible; whether that happens while relaxing on the back porch, engaging in a morning walk, volunteering with Campers on Mission, or participating in a women’s weekend with TWRA, being outdoors revives my soul. And this week, I learned this renewal has a name—Forest Bathing. Who knew? Well, I’m sure someone did, but it wasn’t me! However, since the concept appeared twice in my reading this week, I opted to ponder this idea a little longer.

Craig Owensby from TWRA offers an amusing take on his introduction to Forest Bathing: “When I first heard about [it], I got it all wrong. I had a mental picture of an old claw-footed tub in a grove of tall cedars, lit by a beam of sunlight down through the treetops, steam rising off the water, bar of soap and a stack of fresh white towels on a stump nearby. But that’s not it at all, not even close…you just go out into the woods, be calm and quiet for a while…The ‘bathing’ part applies because you are immersing yourself in nature, deliberately relaxing, and getting closer to the natural world. You can sit still, walk, climb a tree, whatever suits you, the point is to just get away from humanity, chill out for a while and bathe, you might say, in the forest atmosphere.”

As an avid walk-for-exercise enthusiast and a health educator, I’m fully aware of the numerous benefits to our physical and mental health that walking can provide, but it’s Mark Buchanan’s perspective of the spiritual benefits of walking at God Speed that really hits home; and he encourages us to add even more value by choosing to walk in nature, by Forest Bathing. Buchanan shares, “One researcher says that exercising in nature is ‘exercise squared’…When we breathe in the scent of a cedar tree or a lavender field, we also breathe in the plant’s phytoncides. These increase our immunity, often significantly, multiplying white blood cells. Phytoncides protect us, just as they do the plant.”

So, if these definitions are accurate for Forest Bathing, then perhaps I need to consider bathing more often! Walking in nature, that’s not difficult to do, but it doesn’t seem to happen often enough. But it did occur this past Saturday as Amber and I attended an event at the Buffalo Ridge Refuge where we engaged in learning more about activities in the great outdoors. Perfectly blue skies, filled with white puffy clouds, and pleasant temperatures became the backdrop for the day as I learned about archery and edible plants. For me, this was the best of both worlds, being outdoors and gaining new knowledge! This experience in Forest Bathing was both relaxing and invigorating.

Experiencing the sounds of nature–birds chirping, humans laughing, deer snorting—these are pleasures that Forest Bathing can bring. No cellphones ringing, no traffic noise—just the peaceful sounds that our Creator wants us to enjoy on a regular basis. Perhaps Forest Bathing explains why I enjoy the mountains and forests out west so much. It is a truly magical experience to walk among the creeks, waterfalls, flora and fauna that do not exist when I walk the asphalt streets in Jackson. In Isaiah 55:12, we are reminded “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” In God Walk, author Buchanan shares, “God has created creation to celebrate with us his redemption of us. Creation will clap with our clapping, sing with our singing, dance with our dancing, shout with our shouting. Well, you may as well go get a head start. You may as well exercise that idea now” with a little Forest Bathing.

Engaging in Forest Bathing doesn’t necessarily require much travel if you live in Tennessee. There are plenty of places to choose from, just find somewhere green, even if it comes from your own backyard. Allow those natural-born killers of phytocides to enter your lungs, inhale deeply the fragrance of the honey suckle vine that has wrapped itself around the base of the black walnut trees. Find your spot and enjoy. “Call it what you want,” Owensby challenges, “bathing or therapy or shinrin-yoku, I’m just going to keep on doing it the way I’ve been doing it: getting outside, feeling the peace and tranquility of the natural environment, and leaving the bathtub at home.”

When has Forest Bathing provided you the renewal that our Creator God beautifully orchestrated into our world for us? Would you please consider sharing these moments with us? You may provide someone with their next big adventure outdoors!

References:

Buchanan, M. (2020). God walk: Moving at the speed of your soul. [Kindle version]. Zondervan.

Owensby, C. (2020, May 12). “Forest Bathing” has new meaning. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Retrieved from https://www.tn.gov/twra/twra-outdoors-blog/2020/5/12/-forest-bathing–has-new-meaning.html