The book, Forest Bathing – How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness, by Dr. Qing Li, associate professor at the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, and chairman of the Japanese Society for Forest Medicine is amazing! I highly recommend this read. He was one of the first scientists in the mid 80's to study Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese term for Forest Bathing, which involves immersing yourself in a natural environment, using your five senses sans electronic devices and other distractions to decompress and restore. Tokyo is a particularly high stress environment, where people are being stuffed into commuter trains and workers are regularly dying from overwork. They have a word for that too: Karoshi. To counteract the detrimental effects of contemporary life, the Japanese have now set aside over 65 natural areas throughout Japan for the experience, which typically lasts from a few hours to several days. Dr. Li sites many studies from around the world of the positive effects trees and nature have on us. After all, the forest is where we evolved. Blood pressure and stress levels are reduced, immune and cardiovascular systems strengthened, energy, creativity, concentration and mood are improved. One study in London showed, in the areas that had more trees, fewer anti-depressants were prescribed! Even looking at pictures of trees has positive effects. I guess this is where I come in... Being an urban dweller myself, I feel the need, now more than ever, to spend more time in nature. That is why I have been painting more landscapes, both en Plein Air (outdoors) and in the studio. In some small way I hope to bring the healing power I feel in nature to the viewers of my work. Here's encouraging all to bundle up, get out there and commune with the natural world. Have you hugged a tree lately?
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