Last summer, a military veteran seeking solace experienced tranquility in an unexpected way. He visited the Bankhead National Forest in Alabama for a guided tour to experience “forest bathing.”  Joel Cruz, a retired U.S. Marine who served two tours in Iraq, didn’t know what forest bathing was and wondered if he should pack his swim trunks.  

Forest bathing is a concept that became popular in Japan in the early 1980s. The Japanese call it Shinrin-Yoku, but subtle nuances get lost in translation. It really means to bathe all the senses while walking slowly through the forest. No bubble baths, no water, swimsuits required. Just the soothing sounds, sights, smells and calming effect of nature.

Cruz had been searching for ways to cope with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder when he stumbled upon the group Wild Alabama at a local farmer’s market. They were sharing information about the health benefits of spending time in nature. Cruz was intrigued.  

“I have always loved being in nature, but forest bathing was something I had never heard of,” said Cruz.
 

In the forest you can hear, see and feel nature coexisting through the countless sights and sounds—almost as if nature is whispering to get your attention.

Cruz tried a guided forest bathing session like you might use a tour guide to experience a foreign culture more fully. A forest bathing guide is someone skilled at heightening your sensory experience while in the great outdoors.

“The guide had to prompt me to slow down my walk and enjoy an unhurried pace. Through slowing down we can take in the forest through our senses,” Cruz explained.

While forest bathing, your body and your senses are your guide. To limit distractions and immerse yourself, you leave electronics behind; you unplug so you can fully connect to the rhythms of the forest and notice what’s happening in nature.
 

Connecting to nature has real benefits. Nearly 40 years of extensive research shows a wide range of health benefits from being in nature. Specifically, forest bathing can decrease stress, improve your mood, benefit your mental health, restore your attention and reduce fatigue.

“The forest is the therapist, and the guide opens the door,” said Anne Markham Bailey, a certified forest bathing guide who volunteers with Wild Alabama.

Bailey collaborates with Janice Barrett, Wild Alabama’s education and outreach coordinator, to provide free monthly forest bathing walks in some of Alabama’s national forests.  

Bailey explained that people and nature are deeply connected, and she helps participants access a deepened awareness of their connection to nature by simply opening the senses. Forest bathing differs from hiking because there is no final destination, said Bailey. It also differs from just being outside or exercising.  

“We ground our bodies, notice scents as we draw in the air through our nostrils, feel the breeze and textures on our skin, and receive myriad details with our eyes,” said Bailey. “This connection through awareness benefits our physical, mental and emotional well-being.”  

Even a short amount of time in nature is enough to experience these benefits.  
 

“I actually learned to listen more. Once you take notice of the sounds of the forest, you would be surprised at how much you hear. It’s such a peaceful experience,” said Cruz.  

The sounds of summer played a full symphony for Cruz, he explained—the songs of the warblers, the subtle ping of afternoon raindrops, towering eastern hemlock trees dancing in the breeze, the rustle of leaves, the waterfall hitting the rocks in the creek below.

Preston Hard, a fellow veteran and infantryman who served three years in the U.S. Army, agreed that the tranquility he experienced while forest bathing was the type of peace he wishes everyone could feel.  

“Sometimes us veterans, we have a hard time finding peace in our lives,” said Hard. “Being able to disconnect with your thoughts and the demand of life is important. To have that kind of peace even for a short period of time was an incredible experience that opened my eyes to what’s possible.”

National forests are public places that everyone can enjoy—young people, older people, veterans—all communities and people are welcome. That’s something Cruz and Hard both said they appreciate.  
 

“Forests are a source for all forms of recreation and personal enjoyment. They also provide clean air and water, foster biodiversity and provide many products we use on a daily basis,” said Andy Scott, district ranger on the Bankhead National Forest in Alabama. “The USDA Forest Service is unique in that we manage for all these things simultaneously so that everyone can benefit and enjoy their National Forests and Grasslands.”  

For anyone interested in trying forest bathing, national forests are an ideal place. In the South, you can meander through 11,507 miles of beautiful trails within 14 national forests that each have unparalleled beauty to experience with your eyes, ears, nose, and fingertips.

Editor’s Note: U.S. Forest Service partner Wild Alabama is focused on forest protection, stewardship, advocacy and education. They offer monthly forest bathing sessions and lessons on the principles of Leave No Trace for responsible recreation in the Bankhead and Talladega National Forests. Learn more!