
What is it?
Shinrin Yoku began in Japan 30+ years ago. The words
translate as Forest bathing and professor Yamazaki of Chiba University
developed the concept. He stated that man’s natural environment is, like all
the other apes, one of woodlands. But, humans have evolved over the years and
created an artificial environment, living in buildings, shopping for food
rather than growing it and recently becoming addicted to technology such as
TVs, computers and phones.
We live in increasing complex environments and cities. Tokyo
with 38 million residents is why Japan was the first place to officially
recognise the issues of stress, high blood pressure, depression and poor
concentration caused by 21st century life.