What Is Shinrin-yoku, and Why is It So Good for You?

Now that the trees are all green where I live, I have found my hikes in the woods feel better. It turns out that there is robust science behind this phenomenon. The first people to recognize and study it were in Japan. It turns out, walking in the woods does far more than make you feel better; it measurably improves many aspects of your health. The Japanese researchers were so impressed with the findings that they coined a term called Shinrin-yoku to represent the joys of immersing ourselves in forests.