The Origins of Forest Therapy

 We all know how good being in nature can make us feel. Humans are part of the natural world.  And when we are in harmony with the natural world we begin to heal.

In Japanese, it’s shinrin-yoku: “shinrin” means “forest,” and “yoku” means “bath.” So “shinrin-yoku” means “bathing in the forest” or “taking in the forest through our senses.

 Forest Therapy is like a bridge. By opening our senses, it bridges the gap between the natural world and us.

 Forest bathing, as a formal practice, was first established and given its name in 1982 by Tomohide Akiyama. He was the director general of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, and he thought that the people of Japan were in need of healing through nature. The idea was also part of a campaign to protect the forests: If people were encouraged to visit forests for their health, they would be more likely to want to protect and look after them.

The Japanese government invested a lot of money in forest bathing with the goals of protecting the forests, promoting human health, and preventing lifestyle-related diseases.

Governmental agendas all over the world show just how valuable facts and figures are on reconnecting with nature.  This is a growing global need.