Cleaning my gem stones and singing bowls while having a cup of coffee and watching “my” village cat, her name is Maoi, then reading a book about Kimpusenji temple in Yoshino in the January sunshine. The Japanese Camellia tree – tsubaki – in the garden is in full bloom.

Ditching the pills: A mindful, immersive walk in the woods is all your need to boost your mood and improve your well-being.

Who knew that a casual meander among the plants and the trees could have such a beneficial effect on our health? It turns out that for years the Japanese have been harnessing the power of forest therapy, or Shinrin-yoku as it is known…

This is a Feature article I wrote for Kansai Scene magazine, published on August 4, 2017.

The article introduces the concept and the method of Forest Therapy in general and the Forest Therapy trails in Yoshino in particular.

Read the full article here: http://www.kansaiscene.com/2017/08/bathing-in-the-forest/