The Healing Power of Green Bathing: Immersing Yourself in Nature for Mental Wellness using the Nature Triangle
- Alexander Kwapis
- Sep 2
- 3 min read
inrin-yoku in Japan, is more than just taking a leisurely stroll in the woods. It's about intentionally slowing down, tuning in to the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural world, and allowing its calming effects to heal us. The science behind it is precise: time spent in nature reduces stress, improves mood, and promotes overall happiness. But beyond the scientific benefits, green bathing is a personal journey, a way to reconnect with the world around us.
At Wild Dirt, we believe in the power of nature to heal. By using the Nature Triangle framework, we can approach nature as a nourishing force for our well-being, simple, profound, and essential.
Forest bathing doesn't just apply to forests. It's about embracing the restorative power of any natural environment, be it an urban park, a community garden, or your own backyard.
Embracing the Nature Triangle Through Green Bathing
The Nature Triangle encourages a balanced approach to nature, just like how we balance different food groups in our diet. Each level of nature exposure serves as a "nutrient" for the body, mind, and spirit. Here's how green bathing fits within the Nature Triangle:
Daily Dose (Nearby Nature):
Your daily dose of nature should include simple, accessible experiences like walking through a local park, sitting under a tree, or enjoying the fresh air in your garden. These moments require minimal time but provide significant benefits for your mental clarity and stress relief. Green bathing can easily become a part of this daily routine, stepping outside to breathe fresh air, noticing the birds or trees around you, and enjoying the tranquility that nature offers.
Weekly Dose (Local Green Spaces):
A step up from daily interactions is engaging in more immersive nature experiences like visiting larger parks, hiking, or participating in outdoor activities like picnics. These activities provide deeper connections with nature and allow for more relaxation and rejuvenation. Green bathing can be practiced during these longer outdoor outings, enabling you to connect with nature on a deeper level each week.
Monthly Dose (Restful, Natural Areas):
As you move up the Nature Triangle, monthly experiences offer longer, more immersive nature escapes, like a weekend camping trip or a visit to a natural area. These excursions allow you to spend several hours or even days in natural environments, completely disconnecting from daily stresses and experiencing profound relaxation and renewal.
Annual Dose (Wilderness Immersion):
At the top of the Nature Triangle are extended trips to wilderness areas or national parks. These multi-day excursions offer the deepest level of nature immersion. While not an everyday experience, these trips allow for the ultimate healing, giving you the chance to truly immerse yourself in nature, reconnect with the earth, and profoundly rejuvenate your spirit.
The Benefits of Green Bathing
Green bathing is a simple yet effective way to improve mental wellness. Spending just a few minutes in nature each day has been shown to lower stress levels, reduce anxiety, improve mood, and even boost cognitive function. The beauty of this practice is that it can be done anywhere, whether you're in an urban park or a forest reserve. The restorative power of nature is universally accessible.
References & Resources:
Beatley, Tim. (2012). Exploring the Nature Pyramid. The Nature of Cities.
Selhub, E. & Logan, A. C. (2014). Your Brain On Nature. Collins Publishers.
Williams, F. (2017). The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative. W.W. Norton & Company.
