Misool's Guide to Reef Bathing
We live in a world of noise. The literal and metaphorical buzzing of modern life is disrupting our peace, and many of us are turning to nature as a tonic to rebalance ourselves.
The Japanese have been enjoying the benefits of Forest Bathing, or shinrin yoku, for decades. The practice first entered mainstream culture in the 80s in response to rapid urbanization of green spaces. Forest Bathing assigned a new value to the woodlands which were often viewed primarily as a consumable resource. It also created a practical framework to explore emerging scientific findings as more studies began to prove what our elders have known for centuries; that deep immersion in nature has the power to heal body and mind. Medical professionals in Japan started to prescribe slow, mindful, sensory excursions to the forest as an antidote to stress, depression and lethargy. Thus Forest Bathing was born.
Here at Misool, we do our Forest Bathing underwater. A reef that bustles with life is the perfect place to practice nature-based mindfulness.
Read on for our Five Step Guide to Reef Bathing at Misool.
bury your burdens
Identify your entrance point. Begin by taking a silent moment at the water’s edge. Gently encourage yourself to leave your worries on land. Visualise digging a deep hole and burying your burdens in the sand.
seek peace
Leave your camera behind.
Don a mask and snorkel, and enter the water with the intention to seek peace.
be a mer-person
Embody your inner mer-person.
Glide deftly through the water and enjoy the gentle resistance and feeling of weightlessness bestowed by the warm ocean.
notice your body
Begin to notice how your body responds to the water; feel the goosebumps that prickle your skin as your body temperature cools, listen to the sound of your calm breathing accentuated by your snorkel.
embrace the lesson
Drift in whichever direction feels good, noticing the rich colours and detailed patterns that nature has designed. Absorb the lessons of impermanence that the ocean offers and endeavour to take those teachings back into daily life with you.
If you can’t get to the ocean or forest any time soon, we’ve prepared a selection of Mindful Minutes for you to enjoy at home.
