“Forest bathing”: A trend that makes the elite and billionaires crazy

(Dan Tri) - “Forest bathing”, or shinrin-yoku, is becoming a high-end travel trend favored by the upper class. This method brings a feeling of relaxation, stimulates creativity and helps balance the mind.

When royals and billionaires turn to nature

According to The Guardian, “forest bathing” therapy is becoming increasingly popular in the US, especially in California (USA) where many stars and technology entrepreneurs choose to “disconnect” from the noisy world .

Kate Middleton once shared that time in nature helps her “find balance and a sense of peace in a busy world”. The image of Kate leaning against a tree in Windsor during her cancer treatment went viral as a symbol of tranquility and revival.

Princess Kate Middleton follows the "forest bathing" trend to stay healthy (Photo: Instagram).

“She is in nature and that gives her a lot of strength. Looking up is a sign of hope and encouragement really for everyone,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told People.

In a video posted earlier this year, Kate shared about her connection with nature: "I find it a very spiritual and emotionally powerful reconnection. Perhaps not everyone has that kind of relationship with nature. But nature, for me, is a place to balance and find a sense of peace and reconnection in a world that is so busy."

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle also maintain a habit of meditating in nature to reduce stress. Prince Harry shared with reporters in 2019 that he meditated daily to control anxiety before becoming a father.

Meanwhile, Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow has turned her “forest healing” philosophy into her art project The Forest Within, which helps people “disconnect to reconnect.”

Billionaire Bill Gates "forest bathes" twice a year to restore his health and find new innovations (Photo: Sofeminine).

Not outside this unique relaxation trend, billionaire Bill Gates is also a fan of “forest bathing”. Twice a year, he retreats to a cabin in the middle of the Pacific Northwest forest, completely isolated from the Internet to read books, write and contemplate.

Many of the Microsoft founder’s big ideas are said to have come from those weeks of “reclusion”. For Bill Gates, the forest was not a place to escape but a “furnace” where all new innovations could come.

The Origin and Power of Forest Bathing

The concept of “forest bathing” or shinrin-yoku originated in Japan in 1982, when the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries encouraged people to connect with nature to improve their health and environmental awareness. “Shinrin” means forest and “yoku” means bath.

“Forest bathing” is not about climbing mountains or doing physical exercise, but about immersing yourself in the trees, walking, breathing, listening, touching the soil and leaves, to activate the five senses.  

“Forest bathing” has become a popular spiritual therapy among the upper class in recent years (Photo: NILS).

According to Dr. Tushar Tayal working at CK Birla Hospital (India), “forest bathing” helps people slow down and feel the presence of nature through sounds, scents and colors.

“Forest bathing is not about hiking or intense exercise. It’s about slowing down, using your senses to feel and connect with nature,” said Dr. Tayal.

A study in the journal Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, which compiled 28 studies, also showed that “forest bathing” helps reduce blood pressure, lower stress hormones, and improve anxiety and depression.

Dr. Qing Li, author of The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing , points out that trees secrete phytoncides - natural antibiotics that increase the activity of NK (Natural Killer) cells, contributing to enhanced immunity and anti-cancer, mood changes and improved sleep.

Author Qing Li once said that “trees help us think more clearly, become more creative, and make us kinder and more generous.”

Additionally, other research in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that just three hours of guided walks in the woods improved mood and reduced fatigue without the need for medication. In children, “forest bathing” also helped lift spirits, fostering gratitude and environmental awareness.

There is no set criteria for a “perfect forest.” People have different preferences. Some people prefer dry, pine-scented forests. Others prefer the moist, mossy, earthy scent of forests with streams.

Forest bathing can even be done in a green park near your home. The key is to turn off your electronic devices, relax, and let nature guide your experience.

The explosion of “forest bathing” shows that the need to find peace, healing and creativity is becoming a new lifestyle trend among the successful class. Billionaire Bill Gates once said: “The forest is not a place to escape. It is where I find my greatest ideas.”

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/tam-rung-xu-huong-khien-gioi-thuong-luu-ty-phu-say-me-20251029110544793.htm