The Healing Power of Forest Bathing

In Japan, they call it shinrin-yoku. Forest bathing. It's not hiking. It's not exercise.

It's literally just being in the forest. And science proves it works. A 2010 study found

that spending just 20 minutes in a forest significantly lowers cortisol levels,

your body's main stress hormone. Participants who walked through wooded areas had lower

blood pressure, reduced heart rate, and reported feeling calmer compared to those who walked

through urban environments. The reason? Trees release phytoncides, organic compounds that interact with

your immune system and nervous system. Your body literally responds to the forest at a chemical

level. You don't need to meditate. You don't need an app.