Forest Bathing: The Simple Practice of Being Among Trees
Forest bathing sounds like it should involve water, but it doesn't. The term comes from the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, coined in the 1980s, which roughly translates to "bathing in the forest atmosphere." There's no swimming, no strenuous hiking, and no goal beyond one thing: being present among trees, deliberately and without rushing.
It's not just a nice idea — there's real research behind it
A widely cited 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis looked at whether forest bathing measurably lowers cortisol, the hormone most associated with stress. After screening 971 studies and analyzing the strongest ones, the researchers found that in nearly every included study, cortisol levels were significantly lower after a forest visit compared to time spent in urban environments — a statistically meaningful result. (PubMed)
The same review was careful to note that expectation and mindset likely play a role too — if you go into a forest expecting to feel calmer, that belief itself probably contributes to the effect. But that doesn't undercut the practice; it just means forest bathing works on both the body and the mind at once, which is arguably the more interesting finding.
More recent research has continued to build on this, looking at how time among trees may support immune function and cognitive resilience over time, not just a short-term mood boost. (MDPI, 2025)
What forest bathing actually looks like
There's no strict technique, which is part of the appeal. Generally, it means moving slowly, leaving your phone in your pocket, and engaging your senses on purpose: the texture of bark, the smell after rain, the layered sound of leaves and birds and wind. It's less "exercise" and more "paying attention with your whole body."
You don't need old-growth forest for this to work, either. A tree-lined park, a quiet corner of a botanical garden, or a walking path under a canopy can offer the same kind of sensory immersion — which is good news if you live in a city like Barcelona, where genuine wilderness is a bus ride away but a shaded park might be a ten-minute walk.
Try it this week
Next time you're in a park, try giving yourself ten unstructured minutes: no destination, no podcast, no photos to take. Just walk slowly and notice what's around you — the temperature change under the trees, the different birdsong at different heights, the way light moves through leaves. It costs nothing, and the evidence suggests your stress levels might genuinely thank you for it.
Sources: PubMed: Systematic review and meta-analysis · MDPI, 2025
