Want to relax, unwind, and connect to nature? Forest bathing (which doesn’t actually involve “bathing”) is a Japanese form of “eco-therapy” that developed in the 1980s, which offers an antidote to tech-boom burnout and enables you to reconnect with and protect nature. 

What is Forest Bathing?

Forest Bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, originated in Japan in the 1980, and can be defined as making contact with and taking in the atmosphere of the forest. The goal of forest bathing is to slow down and. become immersed in nature, to take in your surroundings using all your senses. Tune into the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and textures of the natural environment. 

Benefits of Forest Bathing:

• Health effects include:
  • lower concentrations of cortisol
  • lower pulse rates
  • lower blood pressure
  • greater parasympathetic nerve activity
  • greater appreciation for nature
  • decreased stress

Forest Bathing Locations:

• The Poe Prairie
• BGSU Tech Pond
• The Ridge
• Wintergarden/St. John's Nature Preserve
• Slippery Elm Trail
• Simpson Garden Park
• City Park

For more bathing locations

Questions? Contact us at greenbg@bgsu.edu 

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Join us in April for events and activities, both virtual and in-person that will involve and motivate the university community on the environment and sustainability, as well as celebrate our common home.  Because when it comes to our sustainable future, Earth is truly our nest!