“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness,” the naturalist John Muir once wrote. Muir, who founded the Sierra Club in 1892, believed the wilderness was a tool of enlightenment—a way of connecting with a larger spiritual force.

But what about the physical benefits of nature?

For me, ambling down forest trails is an anchor of serenity. The air, rich with the scent of soil and growth, renews me in a way that can’t be replicated elsewhere. It’s not just the exercise of hiking itself; it’s actually being there, in those woods. It’s a grounding, connecting ritual that brings me peace, and its effects extend into other areas of my life.

And I’m not alone. More and more individuals are recognizing the benefits of a Japanese practice known as shinrin-yoku, or “taking in the forest,” a tradition of mindful engagement with nature. The Japanese government has recognized the ritual for more than 30 years, and studies have linked it with strengthened immune systems, anxiety relief, and improved mood. Shinrin-yoku isn’t just for the Japanese, though—“forest bathers,” as they’re known, have started to emerge in the West as well.

With projects looming, and a growing to-do list, I’m working on approaching this week with a shinrin-yoku mindset. I’m taking time to enjoy the smell of my coffee as it’s brewing. To take off my shoes in the backyard. To relish Vivienne’s notes of cherry. Because a good forest bath is slow.

Less hiking, more ambling.

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness,” the naturalist John Muir once wrote. Muir, who founded the Sierra Club in 1892, believed the wilderness was a tool of enlightenment—a way of connecting with a larger spiritual force.

But what about the physical benefits of nature?

For me, ambling down forest trails is an anchor of serenity. The air, rich with the scent of soil and growth, renews me in a way that can’t be replicated elsewhere. It’s not just the exercise of hiking itself; it’s actually being there, in those woods. It’s a grounding, connecting ritual that brings me peace, and its effects extend into other areas of my life.

And I’m not alone. More and more individuals are recognizing the benefits of a Japanese practice known as shinrin-yoku, or “taking in the forest,” a tradition of mindful engagement with nature. The Japanese government has recognized the ritual for more than 30 years, and studies have linked it with strengthened immune systems, anxiety relief, and improved mood. Shinrin-yoku isn’t just for the Japanese, though—“forest bathers,” as they’re known, have started to emerge in the West as well.

With projects looming, and a growing to-do list, I’m working on approaching this week with a shinrin-yoku mindset. I’m taking time to enjoy the smell of my coffee as it’s brewing. To take off my shoes in the backyard. To relish Vivienne’s notes of cherry. Because a good forest bath is slow.

Less hiking, more ambling.