Another Green World: Forest Bathing

This episode, we ditch the man-made world and run for the hills for a dose of nature’s own medicine: forest bathing.

We learn about the mental and physical benefits of engaging with the outdoors through the Japanese practice of shinrin yoku. We get pointers on how to talk to trees and find your forest bathing happy place from Julia Plevin and Sam Lazarus, founders of the Forest Bathing Club. And we take a look at how science and technology are trying to bring the benefits of the great outdoors to those with limited mobility or access to the outside world.

Our Guest This Episode

Thanks to Julia Plevin and Sam Lazarus of the Forest Bathing Club for sharing their knowledge of forest bathing in all its forms this episode! If you’d like to join a future forest bath, you can sign up at forestbathing.club.

Take a Deeper Dive

• Go straight to the source and tour the forest therapy bases of Japan.
• Peruse the scientific literature on the psychological and health benefits of shinrin yoku.
• A tree a day will keep the doctor away? Medical professionals are increasingly prescribing time outdoors for ailing patients.
• Learn more about the use of virtual nature installations in prisons.
• Need more seasonal poetic inspiration? Have a cup of tea and enjoy Classic Haiku: A Master’s Selection.
• And if you don’t feel like going outside, there’s always the videogame, Walden. (But, really, you should just go outside.)

–