Page 172 - WDT INTERACTIVE

went forest bathing in Oregon in the fall.
I found maples ablaze in red and orange. I
I found many shades of green among the cedars,
firs and spruce trees, all nestled among beds of ferns
and moss.
I found wonder and serenity that hiking trails in nature
always give me.
You’ve surely heard of forest bathing by now. It
refers to immersion in nature and was coined in Japan
where it is known as shin-rin-yoku, or “forest bathing.”
Scientists there have determined such activities in
nature have quantifiable health benefits, linking them to
breathing phytoncides, which are antimicrobial organic
compounds emitted from trees.
More and more scientific studies are
concluding that “living close to nature and spending
time outside has significant and wide-ranging health
benefits,” according to a 2018 research project from
the University of East Anglia that studied data from 20
countries and 290 million people.
I have always known I like trees and feel really
good among them. And seeking trails to find them is
also a reason I travel.

172 WDT MAGAZINE WINTER 2018