Review: Forest Bathing - How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing Li

Forest Bathing tries to open our eyes to the wonder of trees in relation our wellbeing. The book shows that by being out, taking walks, exposing ourselves to the air produced by trees, we are strengthening our immune systems, reducing our stress levels, and giving ourselves a chance to live longer.

 WHO WOULD ENJOY IT?
Anyone concerned with their health as well as people seeking to know more about the benefits of trees.

 IS IT WORTH READING?
This book delves into Japan tradition of shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) which entails spending deliberate time among trees and how it can boost health and happiness. The author, who is an expert in forest medicine examines the history of this practice and its scientific benefits. Much time is spent analysing Japanese fauna and its benefits but I believe any reader ought to be able to use the information in this book to uncover the hidden benefits of having trees around our living space.

SAMPLE PASSAGE
 "We are practising what we in Japan call forest-bathing, or shinrin-yoku. Shinrin in Japanese means ‘forest’, and yoku means ‘bath’. So shinrin-yoku means bathing in the forest atmosphere, or taking in the forest through our senses. This is not exercise, or hiking, or jogging. It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our sense of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Indoors, we tend to use only two senses, our eyes and our ears. Outside is where we can smell the flowers, taste the fresh air, look at the changing colours of the trees, hear the birds singing and feel the breeze on our skin. And when we open up our senses, we begin to connect to the natural world."

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Forest Bathing - How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing Li is available to buy on all major online bookstores. Many thanks to Viking for review copy.

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