The Japanese Art Of Forest Bathing

Sundays in Kyoto

Today I practiced the art of Shinrin-Yoku (森林浴) which is Forest Bathing in Japanese. It is believed that spending time literally bathing yourself in nature has many health and longevity benefits.

Considering that Japan has one of the largest populations of centenarians, perhaps there is some truth to the practice. Not to mention the age of these trees.

"Forest air is the epitome of healthy air. People who want to take a deep breath of fresh air or engage in physical activity in a particularly agreeable atmosphere step out into the forest. There is every reason to do so. The air truly is considerably cleaner under the trees, because the trees act as huge air filters.”

-The Hidden Life of Trees

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Zen and Ink Journals represents hundreds of hours of writing over the past decade, sometimes from a train in remote China or a coffee shop in Kyoto, a hammock in Costa Rica or a simple cabin on a mountain in Boquete, Panama. 

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Zen and Ink was born over a decade ago out of my own personal journey to find peace and tranquility amidst the ever-increasing chaos of our modern world. In the last ten years, the pace of our modern world has only accelerated and we have moved further out of sync with nature and the rhythm of our souls.  Zen and Ink offers a quiet space for anyone along their journey seeking more balance and Zen in their daily lives.

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