When we spend time in forests we instantly feel better in our bodies and minds. We can relax, empty our heads and replenish our energy in the silence of nature. Here we can find rest, even when doing sport. We aren't just imagining that we feel better from being in forests. Scientists have been conducting studies on the effects of forests on our health since the 1980s.
Whether we go into the woods to walk, recuperate or exercise – spending time in forests is good for us. What studies spanning over two decades have now documented is something we already feel in our own bodies and souls: Immersing ourselves in the pleasant freshness of the forest, its colours and its smell boosts our mood and grounds us.
The benefits of the forest
- One study estimated that the recreational services provided to the population by all of Switzerland’s forests are worth between two and four billion francs per year.
- In the summer, more than half of the Swiss population spends time in the forest at least once a week, for an average of 90 minutes.
- Forests are the source of about 40% of our drinking water.
- Switzerland’s forests absorb more than a million tonnes of CO2 every year.
- There are more than 80 sports and leisure activities that you can do in Switzerland’s forests.
- People who have spent time in a forest produce more natural killer cells. These are the immune system’s rapid response units that attack pathogens and potential tumour cells.
Forest bathing: more than just a trend
Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku in Japanese, is gaining more and more scientific credibility. But what is forest bathing exactly, and what are its benefits?
Forest bathing means consciously and mindfully spending time in a forest, with a focus on taking in the atmosphere and being close to nature.
Good for your body, mind and soul
There are a lot of positives to forest bathing. It allows you to slow down, helps give you renewed energy and more zest for life, and has a comprehensive effect on your mental and physical wellbeing. This is due in part to terpenes, which are messenger substances produced by trees. Terpenes are organic substances and oils that enter the body when we breathe in and have a positive effect on the body.
Forest bathing is great for preventing burnout, and improves both your ability to focus and your motivation. Although forest bathing is no substitute for medical treatment, it has been shown to demonstrably accelerate the healing process.
Exercising in the forest is doubly good
Combining exercise and the forest is doubly good for you. Jogging on soft ground is much easier on the joints than asphalt, and the uneven surface promotes balance and agility. If you would like to combine running with strength training, you can tackle a fitness trail.
If you prefer a more leisurely pace, you can walk or hike through the forest. Escaping from everyday life, immersing yourself completely in nature, consciously listening to birdsong and the rustling of leaves, and deeply inhaling the fine scent of the forest are elements that turn a walk or hike into a relaxing experience.
One resource that provides plenty of suggestions for beautiful forest walks and hikes is WegWandern.ch.
Practising mindfulness
You can achieve harmony between your body and your soul using simple but effective mindfulness exercises and movements. Since they don’t usually require any equipment, they are also easy to incorporate into your daily life, and work just as well indoors as they do out in the forest. Here are some exercises for you to try.
Simple exercises for indoors or outdoors
FFind out how to free yourself from spiralling thoughts, how you can train your serenity or how to recharge your batteries in the morning. Stefanie Schaad is an energy coach, and the simple exercises she shows you in the videos below are ideally done somewhere quiet, like a forest.
A mental protective suit brings calm to your daily life
Hectic moments in our daily lives can quickly throw us off balance. With a simple mindfulness exercise, energy coach Stefanie shows you how to stay calm in stressful situations.
Energy for the whole day: it’s easy
The following ritual from energy coach Stefanie Schaad will help you recharge your batteries in the morning and stay more energised in your daily life.
Fully in the here and now
With her three-step energy check, Stefanie Schaad helps you consciously let go of stress and give your body the rest it needs.
