It will surprise no one who follows this blog or me that I adore the forest. My spiritual and permaculture endeavors give me strong ties to working with trees and the forest landscape. In my work with trees I had stumbled upon some YouTube videos about Forest Bathing. I was so intrigued by this science and practice! The idea that we could scientifically see all the health benefits of regular walking/communing with the forest was inspiring. Naturally, when the opportunity to read Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Quing LI came up, I jumped at it!
This book does not disappoint. Somehow the author has, in many ways, captured the magic of walking in the forest and stuffed it into a delightful book. From the cover art to the hundreds of gorgeous forest photography included, the trees and dappled light of urban and rural forests come alive. The flow of the photos feels very comforting and relaxing. I’m not sure I’ve read a book about science that made me feel so calm before!
The science behind Forest Bathing is described in clear and concise terms. The author gives you the hard truths and the emotional experiences of the studies. I really appreciated the way the author made the research approachable without dumbing the material down too much. It was also intriguing to see the text laid out the way that it was. Perhaps it was just the uncorrected proof I was reading, but it flowed as if I was reading poetry, not just a book text.
Once the science and why behind Forest Bathing is described the author continues by giving readers tons of practical ways they can reap the health benefits of Forest Bathing. Small, simple solutions are given to readers. Urban and rural readers will all find solutions that work in their area. I found it very easy to add a few more of the practices to my own life and feel the joy found in Forest Bathing. I think this makes the book an excellent choice for those looking to jump into the practice!
This book comes out on April 17, 2018. I was provided a free, advance reader copy by Absolutely Fiction Books in exchange for a honest review.
Esoteric Moment 