"If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you’ll come to understand that you’re connected
- Alan Watts
"The forests are the flags of nature. Enter the forest and the boundaries of nations are forgotten. It may be that some time an immortal pine will be the flag of a united peaceful world."
- Enos Abijah Mills
As stated in the "Back to Nature" intro section of this entire Nature Suite, studies have confirmed that spending time in with nature—especially when surrounded by trees—helps reduce stress and improves health. The Japanese word for it is Shinrin-yoku or "forest bathing". This Back to Nature approach was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. The western research-based equivalent, called "Forest Therapy", has shown that spending time in nature improves a person’s immune syste and overall health as well as provides emotional healing, improved relationship skills and reduced stress and aggression.
Listen (YouTube) - link opens on a separate tab/window to allow simultaneous online listening: Forest Bathing
Music:
I composed this piano piece ages ago and thought—with a simple bit of subtle orchestration—it would be a nice addition to the Nature Suite.