Forest Bathing.

[Smudge]

I caught Explorer: Call of the Wild on nat geo catchup, the whole show was dedicated to the health benefits of spending time in nature.

The best of it is you don't need to be stuck in the wilderness just find a quiet wild place, during the show they mention Forest Bathing and there is hard evidence to support the hippy dippy sound track that is mentally conjured up by such an idea.

http://www.hphpcentral.com/article/forest-bathing

http://www.shinrin-yoku.org/shinrin-yoku.html

I know from personal experience when I'm feeling low and life seem's to be dragging me down, as little as a couple of hours in the woods and fields scouring the hedgerows and spending time surrounded by nature clears the cobwebs and helps put some semblance of balance back.

[swampbilly]

any logs involved?

[swampbilly]

ifin i slop threw my swamp does that count

[Mayaca]

I had two responses.


The first..... I believe that this is due to ancestral memories. We are not creatures of concrete and steel by nature. So we get to the woods and it resonates to us on a primal level. I love that I have been able to travel to remote places around the country and spend time in locations that others can only read about in backpacker magazine or on internet hiking sites.


the second........ I am going to keep a copy of this article for my defense lawyer to use the next time I am found naked in the county park. I will claim to be "forest bathing".

[swampbilly]

on the down and low...

the "woods" are my church....

that retort earned me a many ass woopings as a youngin after playing hooky from sunday school, vac bible school etc....

true story

[mattmuttsmith]

Shit.

Around these parts you would have leaches crawling up your ass, literally. Snakes trying to get at ya. And gators trying to taste ya.

I go in the woods atleast once a month for a training patrol and camping etc. I wish we had clear mountain streams and stuff. But ours is swampy water. My bathing consist of running the water through a quick sand samwich that I make on site using fine mesh and sand. Then filtering the water and boiling it.

[mattmuttsmith]

One of these days I'm going to round a bend and find a duo of lost wood nymphs who have went hippy and want to show me their appreciation for saving them.

Ahhh. To dream.

[mattmuttsmith]

I had two responses.


The first..... I believe that this is due to ancestral memories. We are not creatures of concrete and steel by nature. So we get to the woods and it resonates to us on a primal level. I love that I have been able to travel to remote places around the country and spend time in locations that others can only read about in backpacker magazine or on internet hiking sites.


the second........ I am going to keep a copy of this article for my defense lawyer to use the next time I am found naked in the county park. I will claim to be "forest bathing".

Did you take that dude?

[Mayaca]

Yes. While working. I have the best job ever. I just wish it paid better.......

[swampbilly]

Ima not kidding y'all.

I have wetlands/marsh/swamp as a backyard

Ya get used to the critters

Shit.

Around these parts you would have leaches crawling up your ass, literally. Snakes trying to get at ya. And gators trying to taste ya.

I go in the woods atleast once a month for a training patrol and camping etc. I wish we had clear mountain streams and stuff. But ours is swampy water. My bathing consist of running the water through a quick sand samwich that I make on site using fine mesh and sand. Then filtering the water and boiling it.

[UnderTheStars]

I think no one better grasped the importance of convening with nature than John Muir. To him, the forest and mountains and even rocks had a soul. Life flows through everything. He took offense at those who cut down trees to build churches and cathedrals, because like billy touched upon, we have the finest cathedrals in nature. He'd rather be in the mountains thinking of God, than be in church thinking of the mountains...We owe a debt to Muir. He championed to have these pieces of land held aside as National Parks.



For me, the woods and mountains are home. There's a true connection that can't be replicated anyplace else. My parents made sure to start us early, hiking and being in the forest, on lakes and oceans. It's ingrained. (Thanks Mom and Dad.)

If like gets too much I just walk into the woods for a little bit. If time permits, a drive to some of my favorite places. Nature's RX for the insanity that is our world today.

[Mayaca]

"When you try to change any single thing" that quote hangs over my desk.

[UnderTheStars]

Bathing...

[Unclefred]

That looks like my place, except I don't have a waterfall in my creek, and I would have bucked those logs. I would have a hard time leaving here.

[Mayaca]

After a day like I had at work today, I really could use some time away from people.


(I will post a few of my pics)