This book reiterates what nature lovers worldwide already know: Taking a moment to commune with nature recharges your emotional battery. The scientific facts and illustrations that pepper the text make it a particularly enjoyable read.

The Joy of Forest Bathing by Melanie Choukas-Bradley is a wonderful introduction to shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. This meditative practise originated in Japan, but cultures the world over have similar concepts. There's been plenty of research supporting the healing nature of shinrin-yoku, from lowering heart rate and stress levels, to buffing the immune system. The author's memories from the Introduction called up memories from my own childhood, free to roam my grandparents’ horse farm. I enjoyed being immersed in nature then. It felt so carefree. There are plenty of meditative and breathing exercises given, and the book is full of gorgeous photos, along with sketches. Whether you are new to forest-bathing or an old hand, you are sure to love this nature book!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

An interesting take on how to commune with nature. Describing it as the Japanese idea of Shinrin-yoku, the idea of going into nature and really being engulfed in it, sounds appealing. The idea of opening yourself to the aspects around you, the smells, the sounds, etc. and getting away from the hectic stressful life we all live, sounds great. I also like how she breaks it down into the different seasons, with tips on each one, and how you can do this if you live in the city, the country, etc. Easy enough for anyone to do, from the avid hiker to the easy walk with a dog. I liked the book overall, but since she brought up the ideas of friluftsliv and waldeinsamkeit I wish she would have expanded on those (Norwegian and German concepts) instead of the focus on the Japanese idea. Would highly recommend this book, and now it's time for a walk.

A delightful, beautifully illustrated book about the "full sensory immersion in the beauty and wonder of nature".

The author shares that there are three stages to forest bathing: disengagement, deep breathing, and transitioning back. All require a bit of forethought, and all have practices attached to them to further deepen your experience.

I found the book light and engaging, and while I understood the concept immediately after first hearing of forest bathing, I enjoyed that this book gave me specific practices to try. For instance, I would not have thought to use plant materials (where allowed) in the transition part of the experience for tea.

I can see this book as the perfect gift for someone that needs a detox or detach from their overly wired life, and who appreciates the beauty of nature but doesn't get enough time to enjoy it. As The Joy of Forest Bathing shares, you only need a small patch of green space to enjoy the experience.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38743121-the-joy-of-forest-bathing?from_search=true

This is the link to my review on Goodreads and I also reviewed on Amazon.

This was a cute book. It was simple but very actionable. I liked how the essence was to get outside, no matter where you are. I'd heard of this term before and I liked the introduction to it and am definitely interested in finding out more. The illustrations were adorable

This book, The Joy of Forest Bathing, explores the topic of forest bathing that comes from Japan as a theory of wellbeing. I am totally unobjective as I love being in the nature. It is mostly for people not used to being outside and who wants to explore at their own path the joy of forest bathing. I like how the illustrations give a feelgood tone for this book.

The enthusiasm the author feels for the benefits and joys of nature shines through and encourages everyone to join her. She has masses of information to help beginners and more experienced forest bathers find the peace and calm she experiences. I do love being out in nature but have never felt I was forest bathing until now.
Such a lovely book, I enjoyed it immensely.

“The Joy of Forest Bathing: The Mysterious Japanese Art of Shinrin-Yoku” by Melanie Choukas-Bradley offers an amazing introduction to the Japanese concept of Shinrin-Yoku.

The Publisher’s Note is especially elegant:
“Being present in a forest can produce mental, emotional, and physical health benefits; The Joy of Forest Bathing is a simple antidote to our nature-starved lives.

“Forest bathing—or Shinrin-yoku, in Japan—is the meditative practice of connecting with nature and disconnecting from the distractions of daily life. Simply being present in a forest, or other wild area, can produce mental, emotional, and physical health benefits. Practitioners and advocates of forest bathing have consistently reported a significant drop in anxiety, and overall higher quality of life.
 
“Unlike backpacking or hiking, forest bathing isn't about a workout. Or how far you can trek or climb. It is about stilling your mind and zeroing in on the sights and sounds around you.
 
“This book is both an invitation to take up the practice of forest bathing and inspiration to connect with nature to heal both the planet and humanity.”

For me, “The Joy of Forest Bathing” gives gorgeous exposure to an unexpected concept that rings true to my own nature-starved self. I enthusiastically rate this beautiful healing guide a 5/5!

Pub Date 23 Oct 2018

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group - Rock Point and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are truly mine.

#TheJoyOfForestBathing #NetGalley

The Joy of Forest Bathing is a fantastically illustrated book. Easy to read and to dip in and out of. I have read a few books on overall mindfulness but this one is unique as it focuses on outdoor mindfulness.

I have gotten into reading about forest bathing and was drawn to the book. I like that this one is more informational than the other one I read earlier. (But I really do enjoy the images of the other one). There is activities in this one to do - in the season and other ones. Really cool to do when going for a walk.

This is lovely. It's not like my world was rocked, but it was nice to have all this information in one place. It would be a lovely book to buy as a gift for someone. It inspired me to get outside and start using my senses - all my senses - to really experience nature. The illustrations are gorgeous.

Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku) is a meditative practice, done in many ways, to connect with nature. It is a way to relax, disconnect with the hustle and bustle of the world, and to bathe in the natural calmness of your environment and nature in almost a meditative manner. It is a full sensory immersion to the beauty of nature. It can take place almost anywhere and anytime of the year. Research teams have shown that this can lower your blood pressure, improve mood, and may even improve our immunity. The author divides the book into How to Forest Bathe; How to Forest Bathe through the Seasons (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn); Compatible Activities such as meditation, yoga, and tai chi; and Forest Tending which is taking care of our surrounding and environment. Very good introductory book with colorful and cheerful pictures.

A lovely book about forest bathing, also called shirin-yoku in Japan, where this trend began in the early 1980s. I appreciated the synopsis at the end of each chapter. The descriptions were clear and the inclusion of seasonal variations were interesting. I need to go out and find my own special spots in nature, like the author’s Meditation Rock and Nana’s Lap!

Forest Bathing has been trending lately, but what is it exactly? And how does one go about it? This is a quick read, but I feel everything important was included without bloating the text. Here, Melanie Choukas-Bradley shares with us the importance of being in nature and of being mindful while in nature to disconnect from stress and reconnect with peace and joy. Most of us don't spend nearly enough time in nature these days, spending our days (and for some, our nights) constantly connected through our electronic devices and being busy all the time. Here, we learn to slow down, take a break and truly connect with the elements. While I've taken daily walks with my dogs and choose a natural park when I can, this text has urged me to slow down and take more moments to really notice the beauty around me - the sights, the sounds, the texture of the ground under my feet. It was also interesting to learn that some lead forest walks for people and their dogs. Animals are so much better than us at living in the moment and enjoying the sights and smells around them, it can be beneficial to pay attention to what draws their interest. I'll be planning more forest walks myself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Rock Point for the opportunity to read and review this thought-provoking book. All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.

This is a beautiful book both visually and in terms of it's message. I love the idea of forest bathing and I can't wait to try it after reading this book.

#TheJoyOfForestBathing #NetGalley

Good illustrations and explanations are the core of the book. Melanie teaches us how to connect with the Forest by doing simple actives that are meaningful for the soul and body.

Thoroughly enjoyed this and the basic understanding behind it. The way that Melanie writes was calming and smooth. She took all seasons into account, how to dress for each of them and other tips for the seasons. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact though that she included tips for those with limited mobility and ways for them and people in different stages of life to get out and forest bathe. The illustrations added a grand effect to the overall book.

You don’t have to wear hiking boots and head off to the Appalachian Trial to commune with nature. If you do, consider yourself at the “mastery” level of appreciating time in nature. Most of us are not in that category, and that’s okay. We meet nature where we are.

In a new book, The Joy of Forest Bathing: The Mysterious Art of Shirin-Yoku, Melanie Choukas-Bradley introduces “Forest Bathing” to western readers and takes the mystery out of this traditional Japanese practice. “Forest bathing” is simply going out in the forest or other wild or semi-wild place and communing with nature. By undergoing a full sensory immersion in nature, you let go of your worries, forget about the rest of the world, and experience the beauty and wonder of the natural world around you. This beautifully illustrated book leads those of us who do not wear hiking boots to step out into the natural world, unplug, and find peace and harmony within oneself and the world around us.

In The Joy of Forest Bathing, the author reiterates what most of us know intuitively and what science has shown to be true: time in nature is good for you. It lowers your blood pressure, improves your focus, makes you feel happier, and soothes your soul. What I liked about this book is that the author opens the door and invites everyone into nature – children, youth, the very elderly, the disabled. You don’t have to be super fit and a rugged mountaineer to experience the wonder of a forest. You can do forest bathing in your own neighborhood or in a public park. The point is to spend quiet, alone time in nature and get away from our wired, overstimulating, stressful world.

The Joy of Forest Bathing: The Mysterious Art of Shirin-Yoku by Melanie Choukas-Bradley comes out August 28 and is available for pre-order now. The illustrations and photographs in the book are lovely and calming in and of themselves; be sure to read this in print or on a color-enabled e-reader. Suggestions for experiencing a sense of wonder in nature are provided for all four seasons, along with many other helpful tips. Highly recommended.

What I really enjoyed about this text was how simple Choukas-Bradley made it for readers to do themselves. By breaking Forest Bathin down to three simple parts, disengaging, breathing, and transitioning, these techniques guarantee nearly everyone will be able to do a version of this. The accompanying illustrations are comforting to really maintain the tone throughout.