Forest Bathing

Eco-sustainability and a green location are at the core of a new kind of tourism, in a constant pursuit of well-being for both body and mind, linked to the natural environment. More and more people are looking for places where they can deeply reconnect with nature in order to detoxify from the frenzy of everyday city life. This demand has led the practice of Forest Bathing to spread more and more thanks to its philosophy that revolves around a complete immersion in nature. Forest Bathing is inspired by the Japanese practice (shinrin-yoku) which teaches how to benefit from a simple activity such as a walk in the woods breathing the essences of trees and plants, unfailingly invigorating or relaxing. According to some studies conducted at the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, the activity of NK cells (Natural Killer, the “natural killer” lymphocytes responsible for controlling viruses and cancer cells) would increase significantly after a forest immersion, and biochemistry ascribes this effect on the immune system to monoterpenes (the substances emitted by trees which also make up essential oils). After some time in contact with nature and greenery the human body appears regenerated: blood pressure, heartbeat and feelings of stress decrease as well as depressive states are alleviated. For a real “bath” you need to breathe deeply -using the diaphragm as you would do in yoga – in order to absorb all the scents, indulge in listening to the sounds and voices of the forest and contemplate all the different shades of foliage green for a true immersion that will engage all your senses. To stimulate touch, simply touch the bark of the trees trying to perceive their surface and absorb their energy. You can take a “bath” alone or in company, as long as you maintain concentration and do not disturb the balance of the forest. The ideal is to be able to spend at least 10-12 hours in the woods, divided into sessions of at least three hours each, over three consecutive days and take advantage of the period in which the trees are richer in leaves, that is from late Spring to Autumn. The important thing is to choose an evolved wood, with large trees, perhaps in a protected nature reserve, such as that of the Bandite di Scarlino, rich in tree species such as holm oak, cork oak and chestnut that have a high potential of monoterpenes emission. Poggio La Croce is the ideal place for those who want to experience this extraordinary wellness practice: its location in the heart of the Bandite di Scarlino nature reserve, one of the wildest and most unspoiled protected areas of the Tuscan Maremma, makes it possible to spend 24 hours a day in an environment surrounded by woodland, in apartments with direct access to many nature trails.
.
.
.
.
. . .
. .
.