Nature, Forest Bathing & The Art of Rasayana as Wise Hormonal Support
I am standing at the foot of a great redwood. Craning my neck to look up, I have the felt sense of awe. Branches, gently swaying. I am reminded of some sage advice given many years ago by my Ayurvedic doctor, Vaidya Yash Mannur: “best to have you feet grounded to the Earth so your heart and limbs can reach towards the heavens-like a great redwood tree.
Yes, indeed. That is best.
As I walk, the smell of this dense habitat of great redwoods, ferns and shade dwellers are sharing their immense gifts with me. I can feel my senses taking in every bit. My nose drawing in the aromas, my eyes receiving the lush. My ears hearing the song of the forest. My skin feeling the dew-like, oxygen bath from a pure source. I can taste it all too. A dopamine den. My whole being is getting an important treatment that has a lasting impact on my health.
In Ayurveda this type of “treatment” is called a Rasayana. Simply put, a rasayana is a rejuvenation that restores the body/mind/spirit vitality. It can be received many ways. One of my most favorite is what I like to call an enviromental rasayana. A full mind, body, spirit immersion into nature, all the senses receiving nourishment and support, possibly increasing longevity. I believe this type of experience to be an important hormone regulator as well. In more recent times there has been some amazing research that actually shows the science to support it.
In the 80’s the term shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing” was birthed in Japan. And while this brilliant practice is as old as the forest herself, the distinction of intentionally walking in a forest that is densley populated with trees, particularly conifers including doug firs, pine, juniper, hinoki, cypress and redwoods to name a few, to bathe became part of the modern consciousness. Since then, contuned study and documentation has revealed what ancient wise people have known for a very long time. The forest has A LOT to share with us: our minds, our bodies and our connections to something so much greater than what we are on this Earth exists wrapped in leaves, bark and birds . Dr. Qing Li who is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on forest bathing and the holistic benefits of the forest, has been studying, documenting and writing about his findings for some time. In his book “Forest Bathing: How Tress Can Help you Find Health and Happiness” he shares his findings and the science behind the benefits. He explains:
