–Practice Shinrin-Yoku and connect with nature
It has been proven that the majority of our time is spent indoors, whether at work or at home, and our health can often be affected by poor air quality.
Humidity, lack of ventilation or dust are some of the factors that negatively influence our health, diminishing the way we work or socialise. That is why it is important to take care of the air we breathe to improve our well-being and that of those around us.
Enjoy clean and healthy air outdoors too, away from pollution and noise. At Hitachi we invite you to try a traditional Japanese practice that will help you connect with yourself and nature.
The philosophy that invites you to relax
There is nothing like disconnecting from the daily routine and reducing stress with a walk in the forest with all five senses. Listening to the chirping of birds, observing the colours of the plants or smelling the scent of wet earth are some of the sensations that can transport us to a state of peace and well-being with ourselves.
But this exercise is not new and it has a name. Shinrin-Yoku, literally translated as "forest bathing", is a Japanese practice that emerged in the 1980s as part of a national health programme to improve the physical and mental well-being of its population.
This "forest bath" is not a simple walk among the trees but focuses on absorbing the forest with all your senses, walking meditatively, touching everything around you, detecting every smell and enjoying all the stimuli you find in nature.
Enjoy a forest bath and improve your health
Several studies by Japanese scientists claim that the positive impact of Shinrin-Yoku on health is evident:
● It improves mood and reduces anxiety. It decreases the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
● It lowers blood pressure. Not only by walking. Thanks to the smells and sounds that are perceived, regions of our brain and our nervous system are activated, causing blood pressure to drop.
● It protects the heart. Several experts have proved that heart attacks are reduced in people who have practised forest bathing.
● Relieves chronic pain. A Korean study showed how there were psychological improvements with a decrease in pain in patients with chronic pain and fatigue.
● It strengthens our immune system. Walking in the forest has been shown to increase the concentration in the blood of a type of white blood cell that helps to fight infection by breathing in the volatile compounds emitted by the trees.
● It improves sleep disorders. Forest bathing at dusk has been shown to improve night-time sleep by reducing the cerebral cortex's need for oxygen.
Forests can be our natural medicine, and although the ideal way to benefit from all their properties is to lose yourself in the lushness of their trees, you don't need to leave the city if you don't want to. All you need to do is stroll through the parks or gardens of your city to take advantage of all their benefits.
At Hitachi, we seek to transform the peace and quiet that nature provides you with, into comfort and well-being for your home. Our residential air conditioning solutions are tailored to your needs so you can enjoy a healthier indoor environment. Know more about our entire residential range click here.
by Hitachi Cooling & Heating