The art of forest bathing in Whirinaki, Te Urewera and New Zealand s best tree retreats
22 Feb, 2021 10:31 PM
8 minutes to read
Forest bathing with Whirinaki Forest Footsteps, Te Urewera. Photo / Supplied
NZ Herald
By: Jessica Cameron
Mention the phrase forest bathing to anyone and you ll invariably hear someone enthuse about their favourite spa or bath hidden in the bush. However, while I m all for soaking it in, that s not, by definition, forest bathing.
Confused yet? Let me explain. Forest bathing is the act of replenishing one s mental health by going for a nature walk. We can thank the Japanese for the term, which was coined it in the early 80s as an antidote to fast-paced urban lifestyles. Since then, a growing body of research has demonstrated the profound positive effects of shinrin-yoku on our mental and physical health.
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