Skip to main content

Shinrin-yoku

Translated to English is Forest Bathing.  No bathing suit needed.  It is literally a walk in the woods.  In the last century the Japanese discovered that to get away from the grind of the big city and rejuvenate oneself they could take a walk among the trees.  This has proven to be preventive approach to health care and healing in Japanese medicine.

CNN recently showcased a series on longevity and living well hosted by their on staff Doc (of Indian origin) called Sanjay Gupta.  He took a trip to Japan to find out how their citizens lived long years for the most part and discover why city dwellers seemed lonely and overworked.  The latter is attributed their work ethic and surviving through post WWII times to build a better life.  Unfortunately overwork is today a leading cause of stress in their society.


His findings lead him to discover this old technique of getting immersed in nature to solve the problems of modern society aka stress build up.  Wife and I took a page from this docu and did what we knew how, here in the east bay of San Francisco.  We went out this gorgeous spring Sunday for our version of Shinrin-yoku.

We have not checked our BP or have any empirical data to validate it but we do feel energized and invigorated after watching nature do its thing as the sun kept rising through the bay fog and dazzling the living creatures with its embrace.  Below some observations when looking below...

PS: am no botanist so could not tell the buttercups from the other wild yellow sprouts et al but some good examples of the state flower - the CA poppy - was on full display













Bird in flight?  It seemed stationary balancing the Bernoulli theorem so to speak

CA POPPY



Breathing in the phytoncides produced by trees can help fight bacteria and build immunity in the human body, is the PSA many a state in the USA is pushing on their websites.  Cheap health care -something with bit of planning people can aspire to achieve rather than waste money on packaged chemicals boosting Swiss or US corporate pharma profits.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Of chocolates

I like chocolates. Godiva Dark with Almonds - not sure of the naked woman on the horse to be the icon of some choice cocoa based products but tastes good. Started in Belgium but now owned by some Turks. Cadburys - Fruit and Nut Milk Bars - awesome combination of dried fruit pieces along with a medley of nuts makes your toungue dance - started by a Brit now owen by Kraft USA. Lindt Hazelnut spheres - made by a Swiss confectioner are divine balls that melt in your mouth with a lingering nutty taste Ghirardelli Milk Crisp Squares - crunchy and light these milk squares are easy on the palate but pack some serious calories - all good I say! Originally founded by an Italian who moved around till he landed in SF Bay today also owned by the Swiss Lindt empire.

Columbia SC

 The Palmetto state.  One of the confederate kinds. History dating couple centuries back.  We visited the capital yet again this time to take in the SC State Museum. Occupying the former digs (literally remodeled) of an erstwhile cotton mill this structure is an amazing piece of reimagination.  Four floors of excitement for kids and young at heart alike. Located on the shores of the Congaree River formed when the Broad meets up with the Saluda River, this edifice is approx. 60 years old.  The front of the building has a more modern planetarium that was added about a decade ago.  The museum itself has different areas of interest segregated on each of its four floors. The first floor has gift shop and a diorama of some of the local geography including the swamps and the state beaches with audio guides to help understand what fauna thrives locally. The second floor is all about natural history and showcases animal kingdom that may have survived on this latitud...

Gab about Gaps

There are a number of news stories these days where conversation inevitably turns to discussing some sort of GAP - Gap between rich and poor is growing Gap is losing market share to other clothiers The Dow is Gapping Down (so is the NASDAQ) and the dollar is Gapping Up The guy who advised British public over the PA on dangers of tube travel with the phrase 'MIND THE GAP' has died There is a frightening Gap between our Debts and Savings Gap between Executive pay and Average worker salary is at an all time high All I am doing is listening to all this unfold with my mouth aGAPe. What me worry?