Forest Bathing | Shinrin Yoku

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqpUecF-6Vs&t=64s

Forest bathing is the practice of creating calm for your mind, body, and life through nature. By training the 5 senses we derive a range of benefits for our physical, mental, emotional, and social health. The Japanese word for forest bathing is Shinrin-yoku – ‘Shinrin’ means forest and ‘Yoku’ stands for bathing. In essence, it means immersing in the forest to becoming one with it.

After years of careful studies the Japanese came up with the concept of Forest Bathing in the 1980’s. Shinrin Yoku has proven to be a very effective tool in overcoming the negative effects of our modern lifestyles. Through a guided set of activities in the forest, we create inner calm, plant good health, and deepen our bonds with others.

Forest Bathing 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.

An intangible outcome of forest bathing with groups is improved relationships and better social health. Something that we know intuitively is now getting scientific proof and validation through research.

Certain trees like conifers also emit oils and compounds to safeguard themselves from microbes and pathogens. These molecules known as Phytoncides are good for our immunity too. Breathing in the forest air boosts the level of natural killer (NK) cells in our blood. NK cells are used in our body to fight infections, cancers and tumors. So spending time with these tree is a special form of tree bathing.

How To Forest Bathe

You can practise forest bathing in any safe nature space. The main principles are to go in silence and go slow. Use your senses to find things in nature that bring you peace and happiness. Through nature connection activities and sense exercises, you can alter your mood and energy levels resulting in a host of benefits. Recommended time for forest bathing is at-least 2 hours a week.

Beulah Bog lies in a series of four kettle holes and features an undisturbed bog with unusual plants more typical of northern bogs. Classical stages of ecological succession are exhibited in the bog including: a shallow bog lake dominated by water shield with white and yellow water-lilies and extensive floating mud flats; an advancing, quaking sedge and sphagnum mat between 25 and 50 feet wide; northern wet forest of tamarack and bog shrubs and; a wet open moat surrounding the main bog, dominated by wild calla and cat-tails. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHvSz6vyDsQ&t=201s

Beulah Bog is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1975.

 

Some of my favorite images from recent years.

And those years have caught up with me.

I am now 84 years old and those maladies acquired from over the years. have kept me from hiking our state and local parks and bicycling as well. It might be myopathy or neuropathy, but now I am refusing prescribed medications (especially the Statins that that have attributed to my problems) and eating only the foods that are good for me. I've read too much about what to eat and what not to eat.

My main problem is now I need a cain to get around, otherwise I'm not too steady on my feet, which is not conducive to photographing on hiking trails. I was active in 2017 and prior but my stamina has decreased after that. 

Let's cut the chatter and have a peak at what I have done, some are re-edited from the originals. You can also check out the "Springtime Photography Treks - 2017" there's a link to a video there that is quite conclusive. Enjoy.

June 3–October 16, 2022 Baker/Rowland Galleries at the Milwaukee Art Museum

Always New: The Posters of Jules Chéret

Posters by the French artist Jules Chéret (1836–1932) caused a sensation in 19th-century Paris. Known as the father of the poster, Chéret was one of the first artists to bring colorful, large-scale advertisements to Paris streets, creating what critics called a “museum in the open air.” People strolling down the boulevards were captivated not only by Chéret’s vibrant images, but also by how frequently his new designs appeared. Chéret had developed new printing methods that allowed him to meet the fast pace that advertisers demanded to promote their latest entertainments and products. The ephemeral nature of these posters contributed to the popular idea that rapid change was central to modern life.

Always New: The Posters of Jules Chéret presents 109 posters, prints, and drawings by Chéret that reflect the French interest in novelty at the end of the 19th century. Drawn from James and Susee Wiechmanns’ gift to the Museum of more than 600 works by the artist, the exhibition is organized into five sections that highlight the various pleasures his posters publicized: performances, fashion, the press, real and imagined travel, and consumer products. Always New brings Chéret into focus as a master of his medium and demonstrates how these posters reflect larger societal issues in their depictions of everyday Parisian life.

As per usual, rather then photographing the posters (we have had one in our home for quite a long time) there are other things to see in the Museum. These are some of the murals giving the feeling of a walk through Paris.

           

      And then there is my documentary work.

Me creating a masterpiece of Kathy, she is in front of a reflective piece of see-through glass.