Melanie Choukas-Bradley

Wild Walking by Melanie Choukas-Bradley offers a wonderful introduction to forest bathing in this short but quite beautiful book.
She starts by describing the practice and the potential benefits such as lowered stress, blood pressure, and increases in immune system responses and improved mood/mental state. What I found particularly interesting was the information about chemicals that trees and plants emit to protect themselves may also be beneficial when humans breathe them in.
The descriptions of activities and potential activities for each season were useful. I often look and listen when hiking in the woods but really slowing down to observe with all senses in a variety of mindful ways is newer to me.
I appreciated the suggestions for starting the practice and transitioning out of a forest bathing session to make it a little more special. Drinking a cup of tea is so easy but it would not have occurred to me to do so.
The illustrations are beautiful and really add to the feeling of the prose and overall sensibility of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing the eARC.… (meer)

A little disappointed with this beautifully constructed and illustrated book as to Forest Bathing (communing with nature, as opposed to hard core hiking, camping etc).

It is very much an introductory text, which may be suitable if one is coming to the topic completely new, but given it has been a topic much referenced in magazines and social media for some years now, I don't know what the target audience is intended to be.

And do we really need to be reminded (p45) "...and do not leave visible valuables in your car during your walk."?

Big Ship

29 November 2022… (meer)

The Joy of Forest Bathing by Melanie Choukas-Bradley /illustrated by Lieke van der Vorst

With a reverence bow to the Shinano-machi healing forest of Nagano, Japan, we are given a little background into the divinity of forest bathing, or properly, shinrin-yoku. Then into instructional steps to make the most of your time in nature.

Short chapters on additional activities while partaking, as well as for the different ages and possible needs, are also there.

A quick reminder to respect Mother Nature is applaudable. I always have some sort of “removal” source to rid the area of lazy human discards and was happy to see it brought forth in this book. Such a shame it’s even necessary.

Ending with a resource section for furthering your nature journeys is apropos.

The colorful illustrations add to the experience of this meditative read.

Equally pleased to see that the paper was from “responsible sources” within this super hardbound book.… (meer)

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.… (meer)