‘Nature bathing’ is trending: Here’s how it could build your mental stamina and boost relaxation

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Spring is here and nature bathing is the latest wellness trend taking over. This simple practice of immersing yourself in nature is free, accessible, and the perfect way to reset your nervous system. Here’s why nature bathing is going viral and how you can get started.

What is ‘nature bathing’?

Nature bathing, also known as forest bathing or shinrin-yoku, is the practice of spending time in nature to boost your health and wellbeing. It’s not about hiking or exercising – it’s about slowing down, engaging your senses, and allowing nature to work its magic on your mind and body.

According to Shalin Balasuriya, certified sound healer and co-founder of Spa Ceylon, “Nature bathing is simply the act of intentionally slowing down in a natural environment and allowing your senses to reset. It’s not about hiking or clocking steps. It’s about disengaging from constant digital stimulation and re-engaging with something organic and steady.”

When you surround yourself with greenery, your body naturally shifts into a calmer state. Your breathing deepens, heart rate slows, and cortisol levels begin to drop. This supports mental clarity, emotional balance, and better sleep. In short, nature bathing is a simple way to “recalibrate the nervous system.”

To nature bathe, you can simply walk around your local park without your phone and focus on your breathing. Or you can rest beneath a tree, sit on the grass, and notice the colors, sounds, smells and textures around you. If you can, switch your phone to airplane mode and stay rooted in your surroundings. Even if you live in a bustling city, you can find micro-moments of nature by visiting a local park or sitting in your garden and touching the grass.

The benefits of nature bathing are backed by science. A 2019 study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that spending as little as 20 minutes with nature can lower stress hormones and promote calm. Another 2019 study involving 20,000 people showed that 120 minutes per week spent in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. And research shows a connection between lower cortisol levels and those who head to forests to breathe in the forest air rather than walk outdoors in an urban environment.

We have two strands of the autonomic nervous system: sympathetic and parasympathetic. The former is the switched-on mode often associated with fight-or-flight, when the body is primed for survival or action. The latter is the state of calm, rest and repair: the heart rate is lower, cortisol levels are reduced and we are primed for relaxation. Although there’s a need for the sympathetic nervous system to keep us alive in dangerous situations, we also need to spend more time in the parasympathetic system to help the body stay regulated. Nature has been found to help do this, so nature bathing could be your next go-to the next time you’re feeling overly digitally stimulated and in need of an emotional reset.

In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, nature bathing offers a much-needed respite. It’s a chance to unplug, unwind, and reconnect with the natural world. And the best part? It’s free, accessible, and requires no special equipment or training.

So why not give nature bathing a try? Find a nearby park, forest, or even your own backyard. Leave your phone behind (or at least put it on airplane mode). Take a few deep breaths and allow yourself to fully immerse in the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. You might just find that it’s the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life.

And if you’re looking for more ways to boost your wellbeing, be sure to follow Tom’s Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

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