Forest bathing in the WWF Breathing Oases: here’s how to heal yourself with the woods

It’s a warm morning at the end of October and we are in the Vanzago Forestabout twenty kilometers from Milan, to have a forest bathing experienceon the occasion of the inauguration of the new one WWF Breath Oasiswhich from 3 this year becomes 6, thanks to the renewed support of Goliath.

The Japanese origins of Forest Bathing

Before immersing ourselves in nature, the neurologist Giovanna BorrielloOf AIMeF (Italian Association of Forest Medicine) tells us the scientific effectiveness of forest bathingto be considered in all respects a cure for our health. Born in Japan in 1980, forest medicine is now present (still in a limited way) also in Europe and Italy. Since then, studies demonstrating this have multiplied the powerful beneficial effects of immersions in nature for human beings. The original Japanese name is Shinrin-yokuwhich can be translated as bathing in the forest, and consists ofconscious immersion in nature, using all 5 senses. Stay longer in direct contact with naturewalking through the woods and focusing right on breath and on what is around, it would be a natural supplement, without side effects, economical if not free.

«Why does it work? Because when we reconnect with nature in a profound way – explains the neurologist Borriello – some biological parameters change. Plants release volatile compounds into the air: they are very small molecules that penetrate our nervous system and are capable, among other things, of improving our immune system.”

For the second consecutive year Golia, a candy brand that has always been attentive to environmental issues (do you remember the commercial with Licia Colò for the protection of the polar bear?), supports the WWF in its Breathing Oases with the intention of returning the population to nature to improve their well-being.

Born last year, this year land WWF Oasi del Respiro double, becoming six. The new ones are: la Vanzago Forest Reserve (MI), theMacchiagrande Oasis (RM) and the Le Cesine state nature reserve (THE). Here the WWF offers educational, research and promotion activities for sustainable tourismincluding the practice of forest bathing, which offers numerous physical and mental benefits, bringing people closer to natural ecosystems.

The new oases are added to the sites already involved in 2023, namely the Cratere degli Astroni (NA), Gole del Sagittario (AQ) and Ghirardi (PR) nature reserves.

In the Oasi del Respiro in Vanzago for forest bathing

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AIMeF was involved in the project as a qualifying body for the WWF areas, for the training of specialized operators and finally also for the creation or expansion of specific routes that allow visitors to enjoy regenerative experiences in nature. The main objective is raise public awareness of the importance of biodiversity conservation for our health and well-being. Today there are 20 operators present in the Oases who can accompany people in the forest bathing experience.

Our journey inside the Bosco di Vanzago Oasis lasts about an hour – even if Dr. Borriello explained to us that in medicine, immersion practices must last at least 3 or 4 hours to be effective – and after an initial walk in silence, in which we are asked to disconnect (read, no telephone or chatter), we try to walk barefootwithout looking at the ground, and concentrating on our breathing. We then try to activate our senses, with ua walk with your eyes closed, guided by another personthen let’s try to focus on the odors that we feel and finally we draw one forest sounds map. It’s only an hour, but all worries disappear, leaving room for calm.

In fact, in the three new Breathing Oases of Milan, Rome and Lecce it was recorded in the participants of the forest dives during the qualification phase, a significant drop in heart rate, a decrease in blood pressure (the minimum with an average drop between 2% and 7% and the maximum with an average drop between 6% and 10%), a strong reduction in perceived stress (between 13% and 31%) and a strong improvement in mood (between 24% and 30%). More generally, forest immersion in qualified WWF Oases has statistically significantly improved the psycho-physical well-being of those who practiced it.