Imagine being in a forest, immersed in the sounds of birds singing and the scent of cedar and the soft duff under your feet. Breathe in through your nose slowly, deeply and pause before allowing the fresh clean air slip past your lips. Do you feel lower stress, less anxiety and a sense of well-being? This can be a meditative experience and it is called Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing. This is an important part of preventative healthcare and healing in Japanese medicine. The practice is more about “being” rather than “doing”. It is a process of relaxation, revival and rejuvenation. Skeptical? There is proven-research that proves that for most people, this immersion into the natural world reduces stress, boosts the immune system, improves sleep and can accelerate recovery from illness. Those who make forest bathing a regular practice say that they have increased focus, lower stress and anxiety as well as more energy. 
In our area, rich in forests and blessed with the beautiful Snohomish Parks, the Snohomish Riverfront Trail,  Centennial Trail and Lord Hill Park just to name a few but even if you can’t get out to one of these gorgeous places, it can be simple to take a moment and let yourself be washed in nature even if it is just a pause to notice fallen leaves or weeds pushing themselves up through a crack in the sidewalk. Try it, breathe in through your nose slowly, deeply and pause before allowing the fresh clean air slip past your lips. Enjoy.