{"id":43900,"date":"2021-06-21T08:53:58","date_gmt":"2021-06-21T12:53:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/?p=43900"},"modified":"2021-06-21T08:55:45","modified_gmt":"2021-06-21T12:55:45","slug":"sustainability-forest-bathing-a-gift-from-nature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/outdoors\/sustainability-forest-bathing-a-gift-from-nature\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability: Forest Bathing ~ A Gift From Nature"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_43902\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43902\" class=\"size-full wp-image-43902\" src=\"https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Charles-Umbergers-sit-spot-is-perfect-for-meditation.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2.jpg\" alt=\"Forest Bathing\" width=\"1200\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Charles-Umbergers-sit-spot-is-perfect-for-meditation.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Charles-Umbergers-sit-spot-is-perfect-for-meditation.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Charles-Umbergers-sit-spot-is-perfect-for-meditation.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-1024x640.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Charles-Umbergers-sit-spot-is-perfect-for-meditation.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Charles-Umbergers-sit-spot-is-perfect-for-meditation.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-320x200.jpg 320w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Charles-Umbergers-sit-spot-is-perfect-for-meditation.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-810x506.jpg 810w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Charles-Umbergers-sit-spot-is-perfect-for-meditation.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-1140x713.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-43902\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Charles Umberger finds a spot for meditation. Photo by Winslow Umberger<\/p><\/div>\n<p>By Paula Musto<\/p>\n<p>Nineteenth-century philosopher Henry David Thoreau extolled the virtues of walking in the woods to commune with nature. Today, amid pandemic burnout, urban dwellers are discovering forest bathing as a way to slow down, relax and connect deeply with the natural world.<\/p>\n<p>Forest bathing, or as the Japanese call it, <em>shinrin-yoku<\/em>, is the act of absorbing the essence of the forest while leisurely strolling among its trees. While a brisk walk in the outdoors has long been a prescription for better health, forest bathing is not a hike or a trek.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s more of a sacred sauntering,\u201d says Dr. Mattie Decker, a certified forest therapy guide who leads sessions in a secluded, wooded preserve in Bat Cave, not far from Chimney Rock. \u201cIt\u2019s about reconnecting with nature by quieting the mind and awakening the senses. For many, the impact can be transformative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The practice gained popularity in Japan in the 1980s when the tech boom kept people indoors for long hours, resulting in mental and physical concerns. Today, forest bathing is not only a well-regarded wellness regime for stressed-out workers in Japan but has adherents around the world, including in WNC.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_43906\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43906\" class=\"size-full wp-image-43906\" src=\"https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Dr.-Decker-speaks-of-the-forest-as-medicine.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"504\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Dr.-Decker-speaks-of-the-forest-as-medicine.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Dr.-Decker-speaks-of-the-forest-as-medicine.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-300x126.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Dr.-Decker-speaks-of-the-forest-as-medicine.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-1024x430.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Dr.-Decker-speaks-of-the-forest-as-medicine.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-768x323.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Dr.-Decker-speaks-of-the-forest-as-medicine.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-810x340.jpg 810w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sustainability_-Forest-Bathing-Dr.-Decker-speaks-of-the-forest-as-medicine.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-1140x479.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-43906\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Mattie Decker speaks of the forest as medicine. Photo by Winslow Umberger<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Decker was introduced to forest bathing when a friend in Finland told her about the practice that reflects the Finnish cultural emphasis on slowing down and embracing the natural world. While teaching at Morehead State University in Kentucky, Decker traveled to Norway where she became a certified guide.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe forest is the therapist,\u201d Decker says. \u201cThe guide opens the doors\u2014our senses that allow nature to enter through the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, hands and feet. We literally take the forest into our bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Recently Nina Veteto, a busy Asheville mother of two, joined Decker for what she calls an eye-opening experience and antidote to post-COVID weariness. \u201cAfter being cooped up at home for months, it was time to get outside and explore,\u201d Veteto says.<\/p>\n<p>For her, that meant the Transfiguration Preserve, 350 acres of heavily forested land managed by Conserving Carolina where Decker leads excursions. Veteto says that while she was prepared to be inspired, she didn\u2019t quite know what to expect beyond a walk in the woods. Soon, however, she learned that forest therapy guides are not guides in the traditional sense. \u201cWe were invited to shut our eyes and focus on our senses,\u201d Veteto says. \u201cAs we walked, Dr. Decker invited me to run my fingers on rough tree bark and along patches of slippery moss on the creek beds. She asked me to recount childhood memories. Do I remember a special place in nature? A memorable tree? Could I imagine my feet as roots? Could I sense the wildlife around us? Encouraged to breathe in the charged ionic air, I was suddenly overcome with emotion.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_43905\" style=\"width: 460px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43905\" class=\"wp-image-43905\" src=\"https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SUstainability_-Forest-Bathing-Forest-bathing-concludes-with-a-tea-made-from-the-forest-pines.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2.jpg\" alt=\"Forest Bathing\" width=\"450\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SUstainability_-Forest-Bathing-Forest-bathing-concludes-with-a-tea-made-from-the-forest-pines.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SUstainability_-Forest-Bathing-Forest-bathing-concludes-with-a-tea-made-from-the-forest-pines.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SUstainability_-Forest-Bathing-Forest-bathing-concludes-with-a-tea-made-from-the-forest-pines.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SUstainability_-Forest-Bathing-Forest-bathing-concludes-with-a-tea-made-from-the-forest-pines.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SUstainability_-Forest-Bathing-Forest-bathing-concludes-with-a-tea-made-from-the-forest-pines.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-810x608.jpg 810w, https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/SUstainability_-Forest-Bathing-Forest-bathing-concludes-with-a-tea-made-from-the-forest-pines.-Photo-by-Winslow-Umberger-copy-2-1140x855.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-43905\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Forest bathing concludes with a tea made from the forest pines. Photo by Winslow Umberger<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The stirring of emotions is part of the process. \u201cPeople let go of long-held grief,\u201d Decker says. \u201cSome experience profound joy. It\u2019s a gift from the forest.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adherents of the practice say forest bathing has proven health benefits. Trees release chemicals called phytoncides that protect them from disease. According to Decker, when absorbed by humans, phytoncides help reduce stress, anxiety, depression and sleeplessness, along with boosting immune systems, lowering blood pressure and enhancing mental acuity.<\/p>\n<p>With the right mindset, you can forest-bathe almost anywhere. A patio with tall potted plants or a tree-lined parking lot can work as well as a forest. Leave your phone and camera behind, and let your body be the guide. Wander aimlessly, listening to singing birds and rustling leaves. Stop to lie on the ground and note different shades of green overhead as the sun filters through the canopy. Taking deep breaths, you will taste the freshness of the air and natural aromatherapy of the forest.<\/p>\n<p><em>To experience shinrin-yoku for yourself, contact Mattie Decker at <a href=\"&#x64;&#114;ma&#x74;&#x74;ie&#x2e;&#x64;&#101;ck&#x65;&#114;&#64;g&#x6d;&#x61;&#105;l&#x2e;&#x63;&#111;m\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#100;r&#109;a&#116;t&#x69;e&#x2e;d&#x65;c&#x6b;e&#x72;&#64;&#x67;m&#x61;i&#x6c;.&#x63;o&#x6d;<\/a> or book a walk with Asheville Wellness Tours, 828.407.0711.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nineteenth-century philosopher Henry David Thoreau extolled the virtues of walking in the woods to commune with nature. Forest bathing, ora as the Japanese call it, shinrin-yoku, is the act of absorbing the essence of the forest while leisurely strolling among its trees. While a brisk walk in the outdoors has long been a prescription for better health, forest bathing is not a hike or a trek.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":43903,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,107],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-outdoors","category-wellness"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Sustainability: Forest Bathing ~ A Gift From Nature - The Laurel of Asheville<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nineteenth-century philosopher Henry David Thoreau extolled the virtues of walking in the woods to commune with nature. Forest bathing, ora as the Japanese call it, shinrin-yoku, is the act of absorbing the essence of the forest while leisurely strolling among its trees. While a brisk walk in the outdoors has long been a prescription for better health, forest bathing is not a hike or a trek.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/outdoors\/sustainability-forest-bathing-a-gift-from-nature\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sustainability: Forest Bathing ~ A Gift From Nature - The Laurel of Asheville\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Nineteenth-century philosopher Henry David Thoreau extolled the virtues of walking in the woods to commune with nature. Forest bathing, ora as the Japanese call it, shinrin-yoku, is the act of absorbing the essence of the forest while leisurely strolling among its trees. 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