Experience Forest Bathing

Join us at Harbour Cone Sanctuary to experience the profound benefits of forest bathing. Discover how this simple meditation practice enhances your well-being and resilience to life’s challenges. Our thoughtfully designed trails invite you to enjoy the soothing effects of the Sanctuary’s tranquil woodlands at your own pace, making it easy to incorporate forest bathing into your visit.

**Enjoy our thoughtfully designed trails at Harbour Cone Sanctuary** @HarbourConeSanctuary

Forest bathing, or “Shinrin-yoku,” is a calming meditation technique that emerged in Japan during the 1980s in response to increasing stress and health issues associated with urbanisation and technology. In the practice of forest bathing, we open our senses to the peace that exists in nature and deepen our realisation that we are part of the natural world and not separate from it. Unlike other forms of meditation, which often require inward concentration that is easily disturbed by surrounding stimulation, forest bathing invites you to open all your senses and engage deeply with your green environment. It is a simple yet profound approach to relaxation that is easier to practice than other meditation techniques.

Forest bathing allows the stressed parts of our brain to calm and release ‘happy hormones’. It has proven highly effective in counteracting the challenges and pressures of a hectic modern life. Join us at Harbour Cone Sanctuary to connect with nature and experience the joyful peace of forest bathing.

**Walking through native forest brings a deep sense of peace** @HarbourConeSanctuary

Inner Nature meets Outer Nature

Many people living in urban environments know about the relaxing and refreshing benefits of a stroll in the park when feeling stressed and worn out. Greenery around us, such as trees, shrubs, and lawns, gives us comfort and has a soothing effect.

**Relax on a bench at Harbour Cone Sanctuary** @HarbourConeSanctuary

Genetic Connections

Our innate physiological responses to the natural world are deeply rooted and encoded in our genes. They reflect adaptations to our environment that evolved over many millions of years. The resulting genetic programme has not changed much in the last 10,000 years. As Homo sapiens, our evolutionary success is rooted in our adaptation to living and foraging in nature. Our ancestral genes are our ‘inner nature’. This deep-seated connection remains vital, even as modern life often distances us from our natural habitat.

Evolutionary Mismatch

We’ve become increasingly detached from these ancestral roots. Today, we live in a globalised world dominated by rapid technological advancement and growing complexity. This shift away from the familiar natural world has created an evolutionary mismatch, where our genetic make-up does not match the challenges of a modern, nature-distanced lifestyle. Our bodies struggle to respond adequately to often overwhelming physical and social stimuli, including maintaining hormonal balance. This alienation from the natural world might be linked to the growing prevalence of physical and mental health issues in our modern, globalised society.

Thriving in Nature

While immersed in nature, we resonate with a sense of ease, comfort, and well-being. It’s a moment when our ‘inner nature’ harmonises with the ‘outer nature’ of our green surroundings, bringing a profound sense of being ‘at home’. Engaging with nature aligns with our inherent genetic predispositions. It can enhance physical and mental health, providing a sense of peace and fulfilment that modern surroundings often lack. Activities like walking through mature forests, observing wildlife, gardening or simply spending time outdoors reconnect us with our natural heritage and evoke a profound sense of belonging and tranquillity. These activities tap into our ancestral instincts and needs.

**Meeting of natural and cultural environment: ancient boulder with Buddha** @HCS

Forest Therapy

Integrating natural experiences into our daily lives can help bridge the gap between our modern world and evolutionary needs. The ever-rising stress levels in our fast-paced, technology-driven societies can be balanced by restorative practices such as therapeutically structured temporary returns to our evolutionary roots: a time-out in nature to re-connect and re-generate! Such purposeful engagement with nature provides lasting therapeutic benefits. This understanding is not new. The famous Roman natural philosopher Pliny the Elder already stated the health benefits of walking in the forest 2,000 years ago! Yet, forest bathing, the mindful engagement with the wild natural world, has recently developed into both a research-backed science and a popular movement in Japanese culture, from where it is spreading globally.

**Forest bathing reduces stress and enhances health** @HarbourConeSanctuary

Finding Peace in Nature

Joyful Forest Bathing

Places like Harbour Cone Sanctuary offer unique opportunities to discover the benefits of forest bathing. Walking through serene woodlands, observing diverse wildlife, and engaging in nature-based practices can vastly improve our health and well-being. As our guest, you can stroll along the various pathways that meander through the tranquil native bush of the Sanctuary. Our trails are designed for peaceful walks through this safe habitat, allowing you to experience nature’s calming and soothing effect.

**Well maintained tracks for forest bathing** @HarbourConeSanctuary

As you walk through the green forest, you are encouraged to fully immerse yourself in its forest’s sights, sounds, and scents. Breathe in the fresh air and feel the soft earth beneath your feet. Embrace the sound of melodious birdsongs, humming insects, and wind moving through the trees. Absorb the smell of the fertile soil and thriving vegetation. Sense the difference between the dry ridges and the moist valleys. Feel the warmth of the sun or the cool of the breeze. Curiously observe the effect of all these sensations on your thoughts and emotions.

Every moment offers unique sights, sounds, and smells that enrich your forest bathing experience. By using all your senses, you connect deeply with nature. This sensory engagement becomes your meditative anchor. Experience the profound peace and relaxation that comes from immersing yourself in the natural world and feel the stress dissipate as you become attuned to the natural rhythms around you.

Forest bathing can have an immediate, profound relaxation effect, clearing your mind and releasing tensions in your body. Regular practice can lead to sustained improvements in mental and physical health, reduction of stress, and a deeper sense of peace and well-being.

Re-unite with Nature

When you explore the paths and tracks of the Harbour Cone Sanctuary, you’ll naturally find yourself drawn to some special spots—places where you wish to pause and take it all in. Something in your green surroundings may draw your attention and invite you to connect more closely. Take your time to fully indulge in it before you get the next call from somewhere else.

**Encountering ancient mosses** @HarbourConeSanctuary

Connecting with Nature Meditation

Take a Seat: Find a comfortable place to sit and let your senses guide you. The whisper of leaves, the scent of earth, the play of light and shadow—all these elements will capture your attention in turn.

Connect Closely: As you relax, you’ll notice something in your green surroundings calling out to you—a unique plant, a rustling sound, or a distant bird song. Let yourself be drawn in and take your time to connect closely with whatever captures your interest.

Enjoy the Moment: Fully indulge in the experience. Allow yourself to get lost in the moment and appreciate the intricate details of the natural world around you.

Embrace Each Moment: After you’ve enjoyed this moment, you might feel another gentle call from elsewhere—a flower’s vibrant colour, the texture of moss, or the subtle patterns on a tree bark. Move naturally from one point of interest to the next, guided by curiosity and wonder.

Immerse Yourself: Every step and pause offers a chance to deepen your connection with nature. Each call from your surroundings is an invitation to immerse yourself further, enhancing your experience of the wonders of nature.

Feel the Connection: As you deeply engage with your green surroundings, you’ll begin to feel a profound sense of integration. This intimate association with the trees, shrubs, and ferns will foster a close connection and a feeling of union with the birds, insects, and maybe even the worms in the ground!

Sense the Unity: Forest bathing helps to form a deep and meaningful connection with the natural world, leading to the realisation that we are not alone and separate from nature but are an intrinsic part of nature and its ongoing story.

For more practical tips on Forest Bathing, you may wish to visit the Forestry England website, where you'll find a wide range of free, easy-to-use resources to enhance your Forest Bathing experience.

Bonding with all Life

Life on earth has co-evolved over many millions of years. Our interactions with the physical world and all life forms have shaped us into who we are today, both as a species and as individuals. Every element of our environment has played a part in our development. From the air we breathe to the plants and animals we interact with, each aspect has influenced our adaptation. As you walk on the paths or sit quietly in the native forest of the Harbour Cone Sanctuary, recognise this historical evolutionary bond we share with the living world around us. Take a moment to consider how plants and animals have contributed to our collective journey through time and to our ability to live on this planet.

**A curious Kereru (native wood pigeon)**@Harbourconesanctuary

Easy Breathing Meditation

If you want to deepen your connection with the natural world, try this breathing meditation:

Shift your attention and awareness to your breath. With every inhale, draw in the essence of your experiences with the plants and animals surrounding you. With every exhale, send a loving greeting to all living things nearby, acknowledging them as cherished companions in your joint journey through life.

When it is time for you to leave Harbour Cone Sanctuary, take the essence of this place with all its life forms and all your experiences home with you as a source of ongoing strength and inspiration. May the calm and tranquil moments you experienced here provide you lasting joy and peace of mind!