What is Sylvotherapy?
Sylvotherapy derives from the forest bathing practices of Japan, where it is known as Shinrin-yoku. This practice was officially recognized in the 1980s and coined by Tomohide Akiyama as a response to the increasing stress and health issues faced by the Japanese population due to urbanisation. It's aim was to promote the idea that spending time in nature can significantly enhance health and well-being and engage the population with a relationship to the Japanese forests, which needed protection.
In Sylvotherapy we use Shinrin-yoku practices of using all five senses to completely immerse ourselves in the forest. We explore the forest and get to the know the trees through sensory activities and mindful relaxation practices like meditation. In Holly's sessions, we follow her guidance as a Sylvotherapy practitioner along with a guidebook which has pages for journaling, reflection and documentation of our forest bathing journey. The guidebook helps us to get the most out of the session and continue our relationship with nature outside of guided sylvotherapy sessions.
Research has shown that many of the benefits of forest bathing last in our bodies for around seven days and are amplified by continued daily exposure to nature, even as little as 30 minutes (or 3x10 minute session a day). However, forest bathing just once a week is enough to reap many of the benefits it has to offer us.
Whilst Sylvotherapy is heavily rooted in the practice of Shinrin-yoku in Japan, the act of spending time in nature to benefit our health and wellbeing is an ancient practice found all over the world and it's benefits have been known for centuries. Modern science is beginning to catch up, with various researchers now looking into the benefits of forest bathing for our physiology, mental health and spiritual wellbeing.
What are the benefits of Sylvotherapy?
The benefits of Sylvotherapy are extensive and span over our physiology, mental health and spiritual wellbeing.
One of the key features of forests which benefits us is the air quality, which is generally higher in oxygen and lower in air pollutants compared to urban areas. More notably though is the presence of phytoncides which are volatile organic compounds released by the trees. These are part of the trees immune system which inhibit the growth of potentially pathogenic micro organisms, protecting the tree from disease and infection. When we breath phytoncides into our bodies or they sink into our skin via essential oils, they help to inhibit the growth of pathogenic microbes in our bodies too. They also stimulate the activity of T-killer cells, boosting our immune system and helping us to fight off infections. Forest air also contains a higher concentration of negative ions which when breathed in, stimulate the release of neurotransmitters in our brains such as serotonin (our 'happy chemical'.).
Being exposed to natural stimuli like forests also helps to improve our cognitive functioning. We refer to our brains as being 'plastic' which means that our brain cells (neurons) are able to change according to the information and stimulation it receives from the outside world. By spending time in forests, we expose our brains to processing a slower pace of life, natural colours and patterns and ecological processes that our brains have evolved to process. This helps our brains function more optimally and we can see cognitive functions such as emotional regulation, problem solving, critical thinking, vigour and alertness, and creativity improve by spending time outdoors.
Furthermore, spending time in nature generally has calming effects and induces a sense of peace for most people. This is partly due to the sensory associations we have with sources of stimulation such as colour and sound. In colour theory, the colour green induces feelings of calm, relaxation and creativity! Listening to nature sounds such as birdsong also has a similar effect.
From a spiritual wellbeing perspective the mindfulness practice conducted in Sylvotherapy help us to connect better with our selves, our emotions and feelings, and not let our minds run away with the stresses of our everyday lives. Most people feel a sense of oneness, wholeness and belonging by spending more time in nature. We are reminded that we are simply animals roaming the earth like any other bird, beetle or bee! The spiritual element of forest bathing is a very personal journey and is different for everyone. However, most forest bathers agree that spending time with trees helps them to develop a deeper relationship with themselves and the world around them.
The combined benefits ultimately lead to improvements in mental health, reductions in symptoms of anxiety and depression and our improved sense of wellbeing.