Nature Bathing in American Parks and Forests

Introduction

Don and Betty Price work hard all week. Don is an accountant, Betty is an executive assistant. On weekends, they're in the mood for some welcome rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. Their preferred solution: Take to the woods.

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Sometimes they often pile into their car and head for a park outside of the city where they live. More frequently, they find the solace they're seeking much closer to home in an urban enclave.

Wherever the location, they take leisurely strolls interspersed by pauses to enjoy the surrounding beauty of Mother Nature, look for wildlife and literally smell the flowers. The fact that Don has a disability doesn't slow them down. They simply opt for forests, parks and other settings which are welcoming and easily traversed. Even woodsy settings that become hilly often start off on the level.

As they enjoy their close-up encounter with an unspoiled landscape, Betty and Don are unaware that they're sharing an experience whose roots go back four decades to its birth in Japan. There it's known as shinrin-yoku. That translates to "forest bathing," which has been expanded to include "nature bathing."

The primary goal of nature bathing is to experience natural settings through all five senses. In addition to the pleasure of connecting with the Earth in a meaningful way, research has indicted that it offers a number of health benefits well beyond the obvious feeling of relaxation. Medical studies show that it can lower blood pressure, help with obesity and diabetes, and boost the body's immune system.

Being in a woodsy setting tends to relax the brain, reduce blood pressure and impact other body systems. Those who take part in this activity - or, perhaps more accurately inactivity - do so in a number of ways. Some find an inviting spot, perhaps not far from where they live, to sit and take in the scenery. Others close their eyes and focus on the sounds and soothing scents of flowers and foliage. There are those who listen to bird calls or the humming of bees.

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The 63 national parks in 33 U.S. states, along with the territories of American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands, offer excellent forest bathing opportunities. Excluding state forests, wildlife refuges and other public lands - many of which provide an inviting environment for some welcome R&R - there are close to 2,500 state parks. Add undesignated woodlands and it's estimated that close to 30 percent of the country is blanketed by inviting natural forest.

Adding to the opportunities are parks in, and near, cities and towns where people seeking a relaxing walk in the woods live or may visit.

New York's Central Park was designed to offer city residents a convenient escape from urban life. The 843-acre enclave is the most visited metropolitan park in the United States. Its three distinct woodland landscapes were inspired by nearby areas like the Catskills and Adirondacks. In addition to hikers, bikers, joggers and others going about their daily exercise routine, the park attracts others wishing to get close up and personal with nature.

Forest Park in St. Louis is almost twice as large as its New York counterpart and is home to a collection of historic and cultural attractions. Its landscape includes meadows, prairie and wetlands, which provide inviting habitat for a variety of birds and other wildlife and those seeking to engage with it.

Griffith Park in Los Angeles sprawls over 4,310 acres of terrain, making it one of the largest city parks in North America. The city's Recreation and Parks Commission deemed it an "urban wilderness," and its rugged topography explains why.

Wherever you live, and travel, there's likely to be a restful reserve where you may find solitude, seclusion and opportunities to commune with untrammeled nature. The benefits of doing so can range from self-reflection and relaxation to real improvements in both physical and mental health and well-being.

Author Credentials:
Victor Block has been a travel journalist for many years, and has written for major newspapers, magazines and travel websites and served as an editor of Fodor's Travel Guides. He is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the North American Travel Journalists Association. Victor is a regular contributor of reviews to the Disabled World travel section. Visit Victors's biography for further insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.