NATURE THERAPY

I miss these mountains every day. Or should I say, I miss how I feel when I’m in nature: more calm, creative, and inspired. As I grow up, I’m finding that I crave these wild environments even more.

This has been a surprise to me, since I didn’t grow up doing anything outdoorsy. As the oldest child in an immigrant family, my job was to do well in school. I spent summers at the library, when I wasn’t taking piano, clarinet, or ballet lessons. Or doing math problems. I never went camping. I’ve never slept under the stars or even seen the inside of a tent.

Many of you may have heard of “forest bathing” or forest therapy. It turns out that there’s a scientific explanation for why getting outdoors in nature feels so good.

A study of 20,000 people found that those who spent two hours a week in GREEN SPACES (such as a park or field) – either all at once or spaced out – felt substantially healthier and had better psychological well-being than those who did not. They had:

Lower cortisol (stress hormone)
Lower blood pressure
Lower anxiety
Improved immune system
Better mood and self-esteem

The “dose” is specific: those who got less than 120 minutes outdoors had no benefit.

While I live in LA and can’t always unplug completely, I CAN get outside at least two hours a week. In our increasingly connected and noisy world, I encourage you to do the same.

For more information about the benefits of forest therapy, visit: www.natureandforesttherapy.earth.