Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)

[liminal_luke]

Thought I`d post a link about a practice (and concept) I love: Shinrin-yoku, Japanese for "forest bathing."  It`s the practice of being in a forest as a therapeutic activity.  Of course many Bums spend time in the forest because that`s where they live, not because they want to, say, improve their immune systems.  Good for them.  Personally, I prefer to live my everyday life in an urban environment with frequent forays into nature.  I might start a regular Shinrin-yoku practice.  

 

http://www.shinrin-yoku.org/  

[Marblehead]

I always did enjoy skinny dipping in any ocean or sea.

 

But yes, taking a shower under a small waterfall in the forest is very nice too.

 

[rene]

18 minutes ago, liminal_luke said:

Personally, I prefer to live my everyday life in an urban environment with frequent forays into nature.  I might start a regular Shinrin-yoku practice.  

 

http://www.shinrin-yoku.org/  

 

What I like best is that you are where you want to be (-:

 

Forests are so healing, peaceful; especially when you can move through one slowly, dwell a while. If you do decide to Shinrin-yoku, please let us know how it goes.

 

Thanks for the link!

 

[Nungali]

I had my spot  across the river from here   ;  'The Nymph Pool ' . 

 

Where the waterfall comes over the escarpment  opposite, cascades down, through the steep forest into a farm, winds through that (and they got  beaut gardens ... been on 'Gardening Australia' tv show a couple of times )  , comes out into the patch of rainforest opposite our land, and before it joins the main river, there was this pool  ( 'was' as a big flood totally obliterated it ).

 

A small waterfall, rock ledge, deep enough that side to dive headfirst into the pool.  At the top was soft native grass, large enough for two people to spread out on, a single tree that shaded the grass. The rest was surrounded by tree ferns leaning over the clear pool. The other side was a slanted river pebble and sand beach .

 

Wonderful 'forest bathing ' to be had there . 

 

Of course there are many 'holes' in the small rivers around here that wind through the rainforest  

 

 

 

 

 

[Nungali]

I suspect that, depending on the type of forest one  attunes to / meditates on ,   different types of consciousness are stimulated / connected . 

 

The one's around here have a 'certain  flavour'  

 

http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/conservation-and-heritage/gondwana-rainforests-of-australia

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9hDVsx7Nao

 

[rene]

43 minutes ago, Nungali said:

I suspect that, depending on the type of forest one  attunes to / meditates on ,   different types of consciousness are stimulated / connected . 

 

The one's around here have a 'certain flavour'

 

Yes. Most of our mountain is 50% covered with several species of fir & pine (the rest being rocks/eroded sediment/etc) - but down at the base of our drive (lowest spot in the area) is a large lush grove of cedars that wind along the road out.

 

Up top, the 'flavor' of the fir & pines is powerful, active, freeing, alive; they are mostly indifferent but happy we are there.

 

Down below, though, the energy of the cedars is regal, strong, almost commanding. I know this sounds bizarre but it feels like they are standing watch over us, and welcome us when we come down - and greet us when we return. I always thank them for letting us back in. Cool stuff. (-:

 

 

[Nungali]

17 hours ago, WuDao said:

 

Yes. Most of our mountain is 50% covered with several species of fir & pine (the rest being rocks/eroded sediment/etc) - but down at the base of our drive (lowest spot in the area) is a large lush grove of cedars that wind along the road out.

 

It sounds wonderful. What is your general location ? 

 

17 hours ago, WuDao said:

 

Up top, the 'flavor' of the fir & pines is powerful, active, freeing, alive; they are mostly indifferent but happy we are there.

 

Down below, though, the energy of the cedars is regal, strong, almost commanding. I know this sounds bizarre but it feels like they are standing watch over us, and welcome us when we come down - and greet us when we return. I always thank them for letting us back in. Cool stuff. (-:

 

 

 

I love pines !   here the natives  ' up top '  are  bunya ( with a huge cone with edible nuts  and hoop )

 

Bunya 

 

       

 

 

Hoop 

 

and  'down below'  lining the river banks and overhanging the water are  the delightful  'river casuarina  '  

 

 

here the rivers are well lined by these trees

 

 

but further north , in the 'Northern Rivers' area, most have been replaced by the invasive and non native   camphor laurel .... originally introduced as a fast growing large  shade tree and planted in the state school's  playgrounds throughout the countryside .