Mariel Cigarra

So the advice here, notice what you smell and maybe later follow your curiosity to learn more.

You can also try some breathing exercises because there's a big mindfulness component to forest bathing.

In addition to being a forest bathing researcher, Gary is a yoga and mindfulness teacher.

And he says the practice of meditation started outdoors.

So here's an exercise to try as you're sitting among the trees.

This breathing exercise has been shown to have benefits on its own outside of the forest environment.

The reason to do it in the forest is to allow yourself to relax.

And it gets easier to notice things, sounds, colors, textures.

And that's takeaway four.

Engage your other senses.

Listen for the rustling of chipmunks, the gurgling of a creek, the groan of branches in the wind.

And notice the colors, bright red leaves exploding from trees, light green ferns creating a canopy cover for the ground.

When you observe nature, that can slow down your fight-or-flight response and lower the levels of stress hormones in your body.

You can also take this moment to touch some stuff.

No, no, no, not the poison ivy.

You know what?

Why don't we start with the tree?

Go ahead and feel its bark.

Is it rough or smooth?

Does it have any scars from old branches?