Whether it’s a remote rainforest wander or some laps of the botanical gardens, many of us turn to nature for a soothing balm to our hectic urban lives.
“You just notice that leaf there, this tree over here, that bug crawling on the tree. It’s just [about] being in nature and watching stuff and seeing what happens. There’s something really different about slowing the body down as opposed to speeding it up.” “I walk in nature every morning and start with some mindful walking, feeling my feet on the ground and noticing my senses – what I can see, the sounds around me, the air on my skin and the way movement feels,” says James, author ofHere are some more ways you can bring a bit of forest bathing to your next nature walk:While traditional forest bathing sees you walk super slowly, there are still things you can do to mentally slow down on a hike.
“For me, when I’m connecting with nature, I’m looking for that greater sense of perspective, to immerse myself in the wonder of nature and remember that life is not just news stories and Instagram feeds,” James says.