The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, also known as forest, or nature, bathing, has a multitude of health benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, the term shinrin-yoku—which roughly translates to “making contact with and taking in the atmosphere of the forest,” was coined by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in 1982. Simply put, forest bathing is spending time in nature—breathing in fresh air, soaking up the calm, and appreciating the meditative state it induces.
Learn more about forest bathing at the Forest Bathing Central website. And click here for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s guide to starting a forest bathing practice.
We’ve gathered a few places that offer beautiful green spaces for forest bathing, a wellness walk, and outdoor Tai Chi or yoga. Remember, forest bathing isn’t just for hikers or wilderness lovers. You can practice shinrin-yoku by biking or horseback riding, but it can be as simple and accessible as being in a city park, hanging out in your backyard, or sitting on a bench or the ground beneath a tree.
If you want to go all in, there are countless forested and wooded areas within the Chicago area and throughout Illinois. Click on the links below to see what’s on offer. You can go for a forest bath at any of these sites, and many offer guided walks. Most are free, but some require admission and/or participation fees.
Many places throughout Chicago and the suburbs offer paved trails easily navigated by wheelchair and walker (which are also easy on the feet), including the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Forest Preserves of Cook County which have more than 100 miles of paved trails and more than 200 unpaved. Just check in advance to be the sure the trail is paved. You can use this site, Trail Link, to search for all paved trails in the Chicago area, or anywhere in the country; simply set the filter to show only paved results.
0 Comments