FOREST THERAPY

In The Essence Of Forest Therapy it is explained the red thread of this course, which is presence. Different signposts are given through lectures of how to keep attention at present moment. In the first part we talk about what is forest therapy, which is a present and open walk to forest.

When we are really in the given moment we are not impatient or bored. Be awareness when you listen to the lectures, it will be easier to comprehend the content.

The main message is go to forest, nature as many times as possible and be fully aware of yourself. The opposite condition is to be lost in our thoughts. Between those two states is being aware of constant river of thoughts. If we see this in ourselves it is nothing wrong, just try to relax and let go of everything. Be empty and full of trust to life, yourself.

We take those forest walks slowly, with no particular goal or timetable. We should be open, ready to receive the natural flow of energy. Forest is balancing our energy. If we are down a forest walk will lift us up and if we are too activated it will sooth us.

In the second part it is explained how is forest therapy done. First it is good to establish oneself and later take a partner or a friend with you for a this kind of walk. It should last from two to four hours.

The official origin of forest therapy is Japan, they have a term called "Shrin rin yoku", which literally means forest bathing.

This lecture is of a practical nature. It is explained what is advisable to have in your pack back to carry to forest. Amongst necessities are 2 sitting mats, water, notebook and a pen, handkerchiefs and a healthy snack. If we go to a shorter visit to forest it is better not to have backpack with us in order to feel light and totally unburdened.

Just make sure that you will not carry around psychological backpack. Let's empty our minds during walking and if it is not working for you then stop and be at one place as long you feel like it. Just be and trust, let go to the moment. When you come home from forest things will be in order.

Breathing is the most important component of our physical existence and health. At the beginning of our course we are emphasizing breathing to encourage us to breathe more thoroughly with the prolonged out breath first which urges us to make a long inhale. If we breathe like this for 10 minutes we feel relaxed and ready for taking new things in. We also open ourselves more easily and stay focused.

It is good to do the exercise write away, during watching and then remember of this kind of breathing two times a day. It is very good practise because it does not depend on any special circumstance, we can breathe this way when we are doing computer work or washing dishes. It has overall good impact, see for yourself.

Our first exercise outdoors is called breathing with forest. It helps us to connect with forest and more. Our body is well included specially spine and arms. Circular motion is connected with breathing and attention is turned towards the sky and ground. It is good to be aware of the horizontal and vertical axis, this is how we grow in awareness also. That we are not caught up in our little world but are aware of immensity.

Therefore it is good exercise for the start of the day. You are invited to do the exercise along with me.

After breathing with forest our spine will be more flexible, more oxygen in our body and it will be easier to focus attention. In order to be free we have to practise focusing attention on the Self. Trees are here to help us, be open to this idea and try for yourself in the next lectures.

If we look deeper human beings are in certain way similar to trees. The obvious big difference is that trees stand at one place while we move a lot. Therefore we also loose a lot of presence, because our attention goes out to the world. With a tree this is not the case, they can be an example of being long time at one place. When we stand by a tree this quality can be felt as soothing sensation.

Our arms represent branches and tree crown, our body represents tree trunk and our feet on the ground trees roots. We are like trees  open to heavens with our head and should be rooted with our feet in the ground.

Every tree species has its own vibration, the quality of energy. With more experiences we learn to recognise the specific tone each species has. It is difficult to explain in words how does this feel, we can come closer till ceratin point.

Exchange of energy with a tree when we stand by it happens relatively quickly. It is advisable to visit only two different trees in one walk. Here is invitation to visit different trees also in parks to receive various impressions.

A tree is an amplifier of presence and as that can help tremendously to human being who is in search of himself, the Self.

You probably have your own way of approaching a tree and that is to respect first. If you find better way in this lectures video please rephrase your manner. First step to approaching a tree is to stand a few meters away from a tree trunk. When we are observing a tree from a distance we are already making a significant connection just by looking at it.

After a while we can come closer and intuitively lean on certain part of a tree trunk. If it seems to us that we don't feel a tree good enough we can change a place where we stand for another and another if it is necessary. The place should be comfortable for us to stand or rest on our knees easily.

We lean by a tree with our whole body and we keep our limbs soft. The approach is a child like, loose, open, tender. We lean by a tree with our heart side, when we use back side it is more for resting. When we begin exchange with a tree the first thing is to greet it silently, like we do with a friend. The actual exchange of energy happens quite quickly in 2 or 3 minutes.

Important recommendation is no to go to a tree immediately, but after we spent some time in forest and tuned with it by different means.

Then we have another option to kneel beside a tree, with our heart approximately 0,5 a away from a tree trunk. This way is also efficient, sometimes even better, though we are not touching a tree. Therefore we may sense it even "louder" then when standing close by.