What is Forest Bathing and How to Combine It with a Treasure Hunt.

Black Cat Treasure Hunts recently came across forest bathing, a simple way to relax your mind, revitalise your body, and rediscover your Self. Amanda Bate at Forest and Nature Bathing Sussex has set up sessions around the county, including in Lewes and Stanmer Park, Brighton. As a result, the natural thing to do was to alert you all to the perfect combination of completing one of our treasure hunts in these venues, followed by this Japanese practice of relaxation afterwards.

What exactly is forest bathing though? It came about in Japan in the 1980`s and is called Shinrin-Yoku ("taking in the forest atmosphere"). The National Trust refers to the concept as spending quiet, mindful time in nature to improve your wellbeing.
The Healing Forest website has produced a comprehensive article on it. I have shared a couple of sections from that here:

"Forest bathing in nature allows the stressed portions of your brain to relax. Positive hormones are released in the body. You feel less sad, angry and anxious. It helps to avoid stress and burnout, and aids in fighting depression and anxiety. A forest bath is known to boost immunity and leads to lesser days of illness as well as faster recovery from injury or surgery. Nature has a positive effect on our mind as well as body. It improves heart and lung health, and is known to increases focus, concentration and memory."                                                                                                                                                                                                "The simple act of sitting and focusing on your breath can be quite difficult if you are not in the proper frame of mind. Keeping your thoughts in control or maintaining your awareness on one particular object is a very challenging task for beginners. A large number of people give up meditation due to a frustrating experience in their initial attempts. That’s why the role of a good teacher becomes so important in this journey of learning mindfulness and meditation.However, when you are immersed in a forest bath it becomes easier to reach a peaceful state of mind. By paying attention to our senses and moving in the forest mindfully we can not only get all the benefits of meditation for our mind, but also boost our immunity and create good health for our body."                                                                              Amanda summarised her sessions as: “For me there is nowhere better to fully exhale and reset, than in amongst the trees and the meadows... Forest Bathing is a mindful way to release, explore, celebrate and give and receive the subtleties and power of nature.”

Black Cat Treasure Hunts would like to draw your attention to an upcoming session in Lewes and more information about the activity here: Why not check out Amanda`s facebook page with all the latest venues and news: https://www.facebook.com/forestnaturebathingsussex

How to combine with a treasure hunt?
*Lewes: Our Lewes treasure hunt starts in the priory ruins and finishes at the town hall. it will not take you long to carry on down to the Pells, site of the Lewes forest bathing sessions.(book in advance).
*Stanmer Park(Brighton) Treasure Hunt Adventure is a circular route starting and finishing from the new One Garden . This is a walled garden, market shop and seasonal vegetable eatery in Stanmer Park. The forest bathing sessions are close by.(book in advance).

Black Cat hopes you enjoy this new activity and spending more time in Stanmer Park and Lewes.