Shinrin-Yoku: The Healing Art of Forest Bathing

Triết lí sống khoẻ của người Nhật

by Oliver Luke Delorie

Discover a slow, mindful way of walking that heals the soul and mends the heart—and let all your senses bathe in the pleasures that the forest has to offer.
 
Heal yourself by connecting deeply with nature. Fill your lungs with fresh forest air, which has cancer-fighting chemicals called phytoncides that can lower blood pressure, decrease levels of stress, and reduce muscle tension. With 75 inspirational quotes, this guide teaches you how to benefit from what the Japanese call “the medicine of the forest” by leaving the hustle and bustle behind and soaking up the silence. Through focusing on the things you see and hear, staying aware of your environment, and being present in the moment, you’ll improve your health and well-being.

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

Published November 6, 2018

Reviews

[Long Ng. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tình cờ lối sống thích gần gũi thiên nhiên của tôi có nhiều điểm đồng điệu với triết lí Shinrin Yoku của người Nhật. Nên tôi rất thích cuốn sách này. Hoá ra việc mình lắng nghe tiếng chim hót bên ngoài cửa sổ mỗi sáng thức dậy, tắm nắng, đón gió, ngửi mùi cây cỏ mỗi lúc đi ngang qua một rừng cây v.v.. lại là một liệu pháp chữa lành thuần khiết và hiệu quả.

Khi đọc thi thoảng sẽ bắt gặp một thông tin khoa học mà có thể mình chưa biết. Kiểu thế này: Sau cơn bão, ngoài không khí có rất nhiều điện tích âm tự nhiên, giúp trung hoà phân tử gốc tự do, tăng chức năng miễn dịch, và giúp lọc máu. Để cơ thể tiếp xúc với những phân tử điện tích sản sinh từ thiên nhiên có thể giúp ta sống lâu và khoẻ mạnh hơn.
Bảo sao lúc chạy bộ ngoài trời sau cơn mưa lại thấy sảng khoái và tươi mới thế.

Sách đơn giản, ngắn gọn và mỗi triết lí đều có kèm minh hoạ là những tác phẩm nhiếp ảnh với góc độ rất đẹp, như ô cửa vuông mở ra thiên nhiên rung rinh trước mắt. Nhắc bạn trong nhịp sống hiện đại, đừng quên sự vỗ về quý giá của thiên nhiên.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CED3ZnOhh...

[Leonard · Rating 1 out of 5]

In spite of having reasonably attractive photos and encouraging people to get back into nature, I was somewhat turned off by this book. I thought the writing was uneven, some chapters seemed to be written for children and others for older people. But the worst part was the lack of safety cautions including encouraging people to leave safety gear at home when they go exploring in caves.That seems unwise and irresponsible. Also encouraging people to hike off of trails can increase the danger, and in many areas will increase the damage done to the environment. Read and follow at your own risk.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have heard about forest bathing and was expecting a little more from this book. It does contain some excellent photos, and the one thing that stood out for me was the quote on page 12 attributed to Kathryn Aalto.

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this honestly gave me so many memories. From going off roading on vacations to spending my hunting seasons enjoying the serenity of the woods. I had a deep connection with many of the points in this. I will say I sometimes thought the captions were a bit outlandish and impersonal at times? Or could have been more in-depth or scientific? But that’s a personal opinion. As a last note to enjoying the art of forest bathing, I would like to add some points I enjoy.

Rain while in a forest is magical, especially if you see right before the rain begins. You typically see animals scurrying for shelter. Feel the air change, perhaps even a slight breeze. Then you being to hear the soft patters of the raindrops on leaves and can see the plants buoyancy of the affect. As the soil dampens, you smell the very distinct aroma.

When you walk through a forest, there is a lot going on. But I recommend looking a little more in depth then just the main picture. Look closely at the moss and lichen on the trees. Feel the undersides or plant leaves, you never know what you’ll find (be wary of poison oak or ivy)! Go to the riverside and look at the ecosystem. During the fall, pick up and examine the red and orange maple leaves, and compare them to the yellow beech. The intricacies of Mother Nature is incredible. In my experience, when I have these moments, I realize just how small I am in retrospect to the whole universe. It really gets you thinking about life in general. So get out there and enjoy the outdoors.

[Diane B]

Now I want to create small fairy doors at the bottom of some trees so my grand daughter discovers some magic in the garden

[Gwendolyn Caithness Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elegant, calming. I get a lot of criticism for walking barefoot in mud or listening to trees, feeling textures, etc outdoors. I experienced a reduction in blood pressure every time I opened it and/or went for walks.

[Jeffrey Ning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shinrin-yoku echoes the notion that our survival depends on the great outdoors. Inspired me to find local shinrin-yoku spots.

Starting point for everyone to embrace shinrin-yoku.

[Alli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty book, but not much substance.

[Nikki T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was initially incredibly disappointed with this book. It was all just pretty quotes, little poetic entries, and full page pictures.
Only once I started forcing myself to slow down and really give each page time (read, consider, enjoy the gorgeous photography, and then sometimes reread and consider again) did I see the beauty in this little book.

While I had been hoping for something filled with what to do, why to do it, and how to do it - I instead stumbled upon a book of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) inspiration.
I strongly believe that this book wasn't written to teach you lots of things. Instead, it was most likely written to inspire you into action - and from there, you would reap the benefits written about in the book, and that, I'm sure the author thought, is well worth putting together.
This is further proven by the recommended reading list at the end that stars more wordy technical books.

I have lots of things on my to research list after reading this, and immediately requested my local library to bring in some more technical books on forest bathing so I can learn more.
Success!

I know other people rated this book quite harshly, but I have a feeling it's because they picked it up expecting something different.
It's a lyrical, inspirational, gorgeously captured *experience* - not a highly technical, well explained, scientific read.

With that in mind, I highly recommend giving it a chance!

[Elysia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Go walk in the woods without shoes and walk into random caves without gear or preparations. Do it. I dare you

The prose is nice at times. Kinda poetic. The pictures on every other page are very pretty, too. The little haikus on page 150 are cute.

Also, please don't gather random plants in the hopes that they'll heal you from whatever. Do some research! Talk to a doctor! Talk to people who know what random plants are poison! You know. Normal stuff.

[Andrew Lesiv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Це непогана книга з точки зору естетики та наповнення, але вона не витримала перевірку на цілісність думки як на мене. Тому як ідея та арт обʼєкт - це клас, але як окрема течія чи думка, то не скажу що прочитав щось нове. Тому це просто цікава та естетична річ на один раз.
Або я ще не досить дійшов до того, щоб зрозуміти цю книгу до кінця… бо таке теж може бути!

[Marsha De Blieck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik heb een Nederlandse uitvoering van dit boekje vertaald door Wim Huijser 'De kracht van wandelen' een leuk boekje met 42 verhaaltjes over wandelen. Afgewisseld met mooie quotes en afbeeldingen.

Cadeau gekregen van mijn stiefmoeder omdat ik veel wandel tijdens mijn werk als hondenuitlaatster.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie - this is a pretty weird book in places.

I like to turn to a random page in this book when I need something uplifting/humourous and it seems to do the trick. One of my friends found the book equally useful in this way.

[Tiffany Decker · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read a page before dinner each evening as a family and it was a lot of fun! Some of the passages care more about alliteration than the actual message, but, over-all, it was great to get those little bits of daily ways to connect with nature.

[Cody · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of those coffee table books filled with platitudes and random Shutterstock photos. Not an actual book about the practice or science behind shinrin-yoku. The best part of this book is that it has a recommended reading section that points you towards actual books about the topic.

[LeeAnn Balbirona · Rating 2 out of 5]

If Instagram were a book. More of a gift object than real information.

[Lauren Canaday Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light read with quotes, pictures, and inspiration rather than an in-depth study.

[Minh Anh Đặng · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 cuốn sách tìm lại bình yên trong tâm hồn, giúp mình yêu thiên nhiên hơn, yêu các cơn mưa, nắng, gió, cây cối và đón nhận mọi thứ xung quanh.

[Bori Pál · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just a random cute little thing. Instead of reading it, you could also simply go to the forest.

[Adrianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

pretty coffee table book, but with random content… mostly just nice pictures - but they are simply from shutterstock

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty pictures but doesn't really go into the art of Shinrin-Yoku, how or why people do it. It just suggests how you can get outside.

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Enhance the ancient Japanese philosophy of Shinrin-yoku and fine practical ways to connect deeply with nature. Discover a slow mindful way of walking that heals the soul and mends the heart. Let all your senses bathe in the sensory pleasures that the woodland has to offer. "

An absolutely beautiful book. There's some great advice on how to get out into nature and revel in all it has to offer. The pictures alone are stunning. Would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to slow down and relax in the wonderful outdoors.

[Hazel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is an aesthetically-pleasing coffee-table book. Good for flipping to a random page if you need ideas for something to do in nature. However, if you’re looking for actual information about this subject, this book does not provide that.

[Neringa.Kit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Expected something more. I see this book as a great tool for helping to decide what to do in Nature when your own imagination doesn't work that day.