02/11/2026
Have you ever heard of Shinrin-yoku? 🌿
It’s a Japanese practice often translated as forest bathing.
But before you imagine swimming in a woodland stream or hugging trees, it’s actually about something much simpler.
It’s about spending time in nature and consciously engaging with your surroundings.
Not walking with a destination in mind.
Not listening to a podcast.
Not checking your phone every five minutes.
Just noticing.
The sunlight filtering through the trees. The sound of leaves under your feet. The feeling of the air on your skin. The colours, textures and smells around you.
Research into nature exposure suggests that spending time in green spaces can support wellbeing and help reduce feelings of stress. It’s a lovely reminder that looking after ourselves doesn’t always have to involve another task, another routine or another thing to achieve.
Sometimes it’s about giving ourselves permission to pause.
I love the idea that we can use all our senses to reconnect with the natural world around us.
When was the last time you went for a walk without feeling you had to get somewhere? 💚
NatureConnection IsleOfBute Wellbeing