The Joy of Forest Bathing: Reconnect with Wild Places & Rejuvenate Your Life

A simple antidote to our nature-starved lives, The Joy of Forest Bathing is an enticing and comprehensive introduction to forest bathing—or Shinrin-yoku, in Japan—the meditative practice of connecting with nature and disconnecting from the distractions of daily life.

Full sensory immersion in the beauty and wonder of nature and trees can produce mental, emotional, and physical health benefits. Research has shown that forest bathing lowers blood pressure, pulse rate, and cortisol levels; improves mood; and may even boost our immunity to cancer and other diseases.

The Joy of Forest Bathing invites you to experience the benefits of this healing practice for yourself. Learn the history and background of forest bathing, followed by detailed instructions for establishing a forest bathing practice in your own adopted “wild home,” encompassed in three steps:
  1. Disengagement from your daily routine 2. Deep breathing and nature connection through a series of quiet activities or “invitations” 3. Transitioning back to your daily life   This restorative activity can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities: children, teenagers, and even senior citizens with limited mobility and people recovering from illness and surgery. And you don’t need to travel to the Japanese alps to experience the benefits of forest bathing. All you need is a small patch of untouched (or lightly touched) nature to adopt as your “wild home.”

Within, find practical tips and inspiration for forest bathing through the seasons: in the winter, when the leafless trees open up new vistas; in the spring, when you can hear the melodious serenade of song birds as they nest in the newly formed green canopy; in the summer, watching the butterflies nectaring on wildflowers; and in the autumn, when you can catch glimpses of hurried squirrels storing food for the winter.

The Joy of Forest Bathing introduces a variety of activities that can be enhanced with forest bathing elements, such as mindfulness practices, exercise, art and writing, and outdoor celebrations. Learn, too, how surrendering to the mysteries of nature can provide guidance through difficult times.

As you find nourishment in nature, you will instinctively begin to wonder how you can preserve and protect this healing resource. This guide includes suggestions for tending to your “wild home.”

Illustrated throughout with enchanting artwork by Dutch illustrator Lieke van der Vorst and stunning nature photography, The Joy of Forest Bathing is the perfect guide to enhancing your life with the wondrous world of nature.

The Live Well series from Rock Point invites you to create a life you love through multiple acts of self-discovery and reinvention. These encouraging gift books touch on fun yet hardworking self-improvement strategies, whether it’s learning to value progress over perfection, taking time to meditate and slow down to literally smell the roses, or finding time to show gratitude and develop a personal mantra. From learning how to obtain more restful sleep and creating a healthy work/life balance to developing personal style and your own happy place, the Live Well series encourages you to live your best life.

Other titles in the series include: Progress Over Perfection; Find Your Flow; Be Happy; Seeking Slow; Finding Gratitude; Eff This! Meditation; Find Your Mantra; It Had to be You; Men’s Society; Genius Jokes; The Calm and Cozy Book of Sleep; Beating Burnout; Ayurveda for Life; Choose Happy; and You Got This.

Melanie Choukas-Bradley grew up in rural Vermont wandering the woods and fields from an early age. She brought her love of nature to metropolitan Washington, D.C., where she lives with her husband, Jim. They have two adult children. Melanie is the award-winning author of several nature books, including A Year in Rock Creek Park, Finding Solace at Theodore Roosevelt Island, City of Trees and Resilience—Connecting with Nature in a Time of Crisis. Melanie leads forest bathing walks, nature and history field trips, and tree tours in Washington, DC and the American West. She is a nature and forest therapy guide with certification from the Association of Nature & Forest Therapy Guides and Programs. She has traveled in Japan where she participated in forest bathing walks led by shinrin-yoku guides. Originally from the Netherlands, Lieke van der Vorst is the illustrator behind Liekeland. Her work is influenced by the times she spent camping with her family every summer. Being kind to animals and the environment is an important part of her vision. She uses her illustrations to make a positive impact on the world, and to keep people honest and humble. She received a vocational education at Graphic Design SintLucas, Boxtel NL and has an art degree from Academy of Fine Arts and Design St. Joost, Breda NL.