Forest Bathing

The key theme on my recent Norway Retreat was about 'Awakening the Senses'.

Ironically though, you often have to withdraw from them to awaken them.

Most of us in the western world are 'over stimulated'. Thanks to the internet, social media, the 'fear of missing out', constant news, WhatsApp messages, never mind the wealth of TV shows, Podcasts not to mention live events!

We allow ourselves precious little time to allow our bodies and minds relax. Yet it is so important to our wellbeing.

If our bodies and minds are constantly stimulated the sympathetic part of our nervous system is constantly working, which means our fight and flight response is always on high alert. BUT, and probably more importantly, we are not allowing our parasympathetic nervous system chance to do it's job. This our body's natural REST & DIGEST, it helps to regulate systems, process and absorb food.

If we don't give our bodies and minds this opportunity to rest and digest, this extra stress on our body and mind can lead to anxiety and disease. The clue is in the word DIS EASE.

In my last blog I wrote a bit about Shinrin Yoku which means forest bathing. Taking time outdoors to be fully present. Being in nature and especially 'Walking in the Woods' is proven to reduce the sympathetic nervous system and increases the parasympathetic nervous system.

If you allow your body to see, feel, listen, smell and even taste in this environment our senses are awakened. This is something which is very important to me and has influenced a lot of my yoga teaching and how I live my life.

In Norway we walked in the trees, by the river and waterfall. I encouraged people to do this in silence. These are some of the ideas I used to 'Awaken The Senses'.

• Feel the air on your skin. Touch the bark on trees. Feel the grass or sand under you feet or the icy cold water on your skin. The warm sensation of the sun or of a fire pit.

• Look at the shadows and light shafts in the woodland. Notice the effects of the wind on the trees, ripples on a lake, or waves on the sea.

• Listen to the sounds around you and the effects of the wind.

• Smell - it may be pine trees or their sap. Freshly mown grasses. Seaweed or other coastal smells. Smell is olfactory stimuli which strongly affects our limbic system which governs our emotions.

• Taste - in Norway we tasted a particular type of pine which was quite pleasant. All our meals were freshly prepared and delicious and we enjoyed a few outside.

So as we approach mid summer - I encourage you all to stimulate your senses. Switch your phones off and enjoy nature more.

Take a walk in the woods - Shinrin Yoku style.

Namaste.