I did some communing with nature deep in the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park this weekend. As my boyfriend and I slowly walked into the park, winding our way along a rustic elk path that paralleled the majestic pacific coast, I could feel myself dropping into a level of presence and relaxation that allowed me to let go of future concerns or worries of the past and to just be.The Japanese coined the term shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing” in the early 80’s. Since that time, forest bathing has become a popular ritual of preventative health care in Japan. In the decades that have followed, several robust studies have proven the health benefits of simply spending time in under the canopy of a living forest or in a natural area. Once again, science backs up this practice we intuitively know is great for us.




















