Forest bathing is an ancient Japanese process of relaxation – known in Japan as shinrin yoku. It evolved as a stress prevention intervention. Enhancing your physical and mental well being could not be more simple – essentially being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you whilst breathing deeply. Sitting, standing, lying down, your choice (note, you do not have to take your clothes off to tree bathe!).

A sit spot, or secret spot, is simply a favourite place in nature that you visit regularly to cultivate awareness, expand your senses and gradually acquire enhanced sensitivity to nature.

Benefits: for ten minutes or 2 hours, forest bathing can be deeply refreshing, calming, de-stressing. Stress hormone production is reduced, feelings of happiness promoted, heart rate and blood pressure lowered and the immune system boosted.

Feedback: ‘Who knew that just lying down in a forest (on a ground sheet, phew) and breathing, could be so restorative and wonderful. The simple things in life, eh?!’