Art Adventures - by Patricia Banks©
Published May 2017 in Nanaimo Magazine and Voyager Magazine
Published May 2017 in Nanaimo Magazine and Voyager Magazine
To this day, one of my favorite things to do is to wander through the forest and find a place to sit among the trees. Sometimes I stay for hours, sitting very quietly absorbing the wonderful energy surrounding me. I have never really thought about why I to do this, but I have always done it, even as a small child. So, I was intrigued when I recently saw a video about the Japanese practice of “forest bathing” or “shinrin-yoku.” Shinrin-yoku is a form of healing that involves simply wandering along forest trails or being in the forest in the presence of trees. This differs from hiking and informative nature excursions because it centers on the therapeutic aspects of mindfulness and spending time in nature.
Many studies have proven that it reduces stress hormones and increases the body’s immune defense system. Forest bathing became part of a national public health program in Japan in 1982. Wow! Without knowing it, I have been practicing shinrin-yoku my whole life, and I can definitely say it has remarkable health benefits!
In recent years, as I began to paint more often outdoors, I became aware of a little ritual I had developed. Before settling down to my easel, I wander around for up to an hour, immersing myself in the positive energy of the area until I feel “right.” Then I quickly set up my paints and like magic, a beautiful painting comes together. Occasionally when I have been short on time, I have tried to skip this little ritual, but invariably I become frustrated while painting.
After reading more about forest bathing, I believe this activity cleanses the stress from my body and allows my creativity to flow. I take time to “see slowly” and I become conscious and attentive to the natural environment. I am inspired and my painting goes well. Alice Walker said: “Whenever you are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul.”
Many studies have proven that it reduces stress hormones and increases the body’s immune defense system. Forest bathing became part of a national public health program in Japan in 1982. Wow! Without knowing it, I have been practicing shinrin-yoku my whole life, and I can definitely say it has remarkable health benefits!
In recent years, as I began to paint more often outdoors, I became aware of a little ritual I had developed. Before settling down to my easel, I wander around for up to an hour, immersing myself in the positive energy of the area until I feel “right.” Then I quickly set up my paints and like magic, a beautiful painting comes together. Occasionally when I have been short on time, I have tried to skip this little ritual, but invariably I become frustrated while painting.
After reading more about forest bathing, I believe this activity cleanses the stress from my body and allows my creativity to flow. I take time to “see slowly” and I become conscious and attentive to the natural environment. I am inspired and my painting goes well. Alice Walker said: “Whenever you are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul.”
