One vaccine we need to take regularly
Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of the mystery that we are trying to solve.
Max Planck
What is Shinrin Yoku.
Shinrin yoku is also know as a forest bath, or enjoying the forest atmosphere in order to relax.
Due to the relentless Japanese working culture, the stress levels of Japanese employees was running rampant already then and the forestry department saw a wonderful possibility that would benefit the stress levels of people and increase demand for forest cover needed by the forestry department.
And so shinrin yoku / forest bathing was born.The Japanese, who were under the stress of competitive metropolitan life, were lured into the healing atmosphere of the forests to engage in different relaxing activities studies support claims of the benefits of Shinrin Yoku.
These have demonstrated that exposure to nature positively creates calming neuro-psychological effects through changes in the nervous system. In addition, the level of the hormone serum adiponectin is also increased. When this hormone is present in low concentrations it is linked with obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome, among other bodily disorders.
Every study conducted so far has demonstrated reductions in stress, anger, anxiety, depression and sleeplessness amongst the subjects who have participated.
Studies support claims of the benefits of Shinrin Yoku. These have demonstrated that exposure to nature positively creates calming neuro-psychological effects through changes in the nervous system. In addition, the level of the hormone serum adiponectin is also increased. When this hormone is present in low concentrations it is linked with obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome, among other bodily disorders.
Every study conducted so far has demonstrated reductions in stress, anger, anxiety, depression and sleeplessness amongst the subjects who have participated.
In Japan there are now 44 accredited Shinrin Yoku forests.
The problem with much of western culture is we don’t no how to operate our own release valves. We don’t really know how to relax and be happy unless we are always busy. Probably because we are going too fast, working too long and hard, all while being bombarded by technology, which was supposed to make our life simpler. Good luck with that.
I notice in my own life the suppression/expression cycle happens when I get really disconnected from myself. What I mean is we suppress ourselves until we can no longer stand something, and then we express it, but often in a negative or detrimental way to ourselves.
For example, we know we need to spend more time in nature, but we don’t listen, and so we push ourselves so hard that eventually we get sick and we’re forced to slow down, but by then the damage is done.
Learning to release the pressure is essential to your health and happiness. It creates peace of mind, two attributes sorely needed to survive in today’s frantic high-speed world.
Forest bathing, walking by the ocean or just being somewhere in nature is a positive and productive way to do it outwardly, but how do we do it inside ourselves.
The Inside Out Solution
When we learn how to listen too ourselves, we learn to listen to what our hearts are whispering to us.
When we learn to listen to our deepest intentions and heart felt desires, we find the release valve and operate it at will.
Often we begin to discover what is holding us back or down, and then we can release the pressure to continually beat ourselves up and begin to experience feeling safer and trusting that somehow the dots are connecting in our lives, even if we can’t always know how.
All we need to feel better is simplicity, patience, compassion.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of your own happiness
Patient with both friends and enemies, you make peace with the way things are, which makes you more effective in word and deed, since you have the power to wait without fear
Compassionate toward yourself, you become able to reconcile what your experience in the world, and in your relationships you begin to feel compassion for others because your realize everybody is looking for the same thing, they may just be looking in different places.
Try for yourself.
Try this as an experiment and see what you notice.
1. Try not to judge what is coming up for you as good or bad…or whether you are justified or not. Just keep it simple and singular. Just the facts, not the story.
If you find “not” putting a judgment on it too difficult, then try to notice how you are labelling it. Is there a pattern?
2. Ask yourself often … How are you thinking in this moment?
Remember thoughts lead to feelings. (try being angry without an angry thought, trying being sad without a sad thought)
Many problems stem from losing awareness as to what you are thinking and feeling. You go into overdrive, and they blend so seamlessly into one another that you can’t even be aware. It just suddenly becomes like a light mist, and then you find someone or something to blame, and then the mist becomes a fog and you are lost.
We are trying to become aware of how we react to events in life.
Does your REACTION create confusion, anxiety or clarity in you?
If you can bring awareness to what is going on in your head, you’ll start to realize the subtle separation of
thinking
feeling
being
You can begin to pull apart these events in your mind and body, and become aware of them. As you become aware of them, and how they work, you begin to lessen the anxiety you feel.
It only takes a few moments to quietly slow down, breathe deeply, and hold, relax and let go. Awareness is always accentuated by connecting to your breath.
Contemplate this idea, and see if you notice a shift in yourself.
In order to create space in your heart, your mind and your life, you need to shift awareness from the problem to the present.
Many people spend all their energy trying to solve the problem, when simply shifting their awareness and making that a habitual way of being would reduce the level of anxiety and allow them to solve the problem from a place of empowerment rather than fear.
David Frank Gomes combines Mindfulness & Active Coaching Strategies. The methodology combines a skill set that balances self-awareness, relationship intelligence and courageous action so that people can be deeply fulfilled, connected to others and be successful in what matters most for them.