{FOREST BATHING} How this helped my anxiety

October 13, 2018

Hi Beautiful.

Have you heard about this beautiful art and science that the Japanese call Forest Bathing? 

(Or Shin-rin Yoku, in Japanese)

The concept, receiving medicine by immersing yourself in nature - specifically connecting with trees and mindfully engaging all of your senses, was introduced in 1982 by the Japanese government.

Even though this only became a 'thing' in the 80's, human beings have been doing it since the beginning of time.

Well, until now...

Unfortunately we're more connected to electronic devices than we are to nature these days. But that means this forest medicine is even more healing and more necessary than ever before.

I started intentionally forest bathing right before I began my PhD program in Hawaii years ago. I noticed that it forced me to slow down and kept me from being so anxious when I had so many responsibilities — which is a miracle considering how stressful and anxiety-inducing graduate student life is (not to mention being a single mother on top of it). 

It kept me grounded. It kept me genuine and authentic. And it inspired me to change my path. It directed me away from all of the things that kept me stuck in my head and brought me back to my heart. To my roots.

It healed me. It works.

(Watch this behind the scenes video I made while Forest Bathing in Hawaii.)

Have you tried Forest Bathing? If not, I invite you to try it for even just 10 minutes.

Or try this practice:

Go and stand next to a tree and breathe it in its scents with your eyes closed. Notice that there is a beautiful symbiosis between the rhythms of your breath and the life force of the tree. With each exhale, the tree is nourished. With each inhale, the tree is feeding you oxygen and nourishing you. Then, write in a journal about your experience.

Sending lots of love, always.

Korynn xx

P.S. You can ignore the end of the video that says to schedule a breakthrough session with me because I'm not teaching in this capacity 1:1 right now. However, if you'd like to experience the deeply healing medicine of forest bathing, join us here. 

P.P.S. Did you hear?! Now with every single (or monthly) purchase at The Zen Femme we will plant a tree somewhere in the world that needs it most. Together, we can be a force for good and rebuild forests. One for one. Find out more here.



If we surrendered / to earth's intelligence / we could rise up rooted, like the trees.
- Rainer Maria Rilke