Forest bathing
Forest bathing is becoming a favorite activity this spring, and it is an excellent way to #GetOutside and enjoy your natural surroundings. But what is forest bathing, how is it done and how can you take advantage of its wellness benefits?
First, forest bathing has nothing to do with water – or with bathing in its traditional sense. It is simply the act of connecting silently with nature and allowing the smells, sounds and feelings of your natural surroundings to “wash” over you. Forest bathing began to be widely-practiced and studied in Japan in the 1980’s, but the concept is not new and has been encouraged and valued by many communities over thousands of years. Similar to yoga and meditation, forest bathing has been shown to lower stress levels and lead to other positive health outcomes.
While there are popular worldwide destinations for forest bathing, it can be done anywhere quiet where the natural world is active. If you live in an urban area, a large park can do the trick – assuming you can avoid distractions. We find that vineyards can be a great place as well.
Here are a few tips that can help you get started on a practice of forest bathing:
- It is important that you have no distractions. This means leaving your cell phone, your watch and any other electronic devices with alerts at home
- Stay as silent as possible and focus only on the sounds, smells and feelings of nature
- Find a place that you find to be safe and peaceful, so you are comfortable throughout
- Join a guide or a forest bathing tour. A guide will offer prompts to help enhance your experience, much like a yoga instructor
- Bring your favorite bottle of wine and enjoy a relaxing, quiet glass in nature; there is no wrong way to enjoy your natural surroundings!
-
Grilled Caprese Brie
There’s nothing like a caprese salad to announce “summer is here!” Bright tomatoes paired with basil and cheese are best enjoyed in the summer, when gardens are growing and neighbors have plenty to spare. We can’t claim to be caprese traditionalists, though. We take the same approach to summer staples as we do wine: we like to do it a little different, putting a bold twist on a classic idea.
View Article -
Grilled to perfection
If the mouth-watering aromas around the neighborhood are any indication, it’s time to get outside and start grilling. From charcoal loyalists to wood pellet perfectionists, it seems everyone has an opinion about how to get the best flavor out of your grilled meats and veggies (our best tip: add a glass of your favorite wine).
View Article -
Mango avocado shrimp lettuce wraps
The sun is shining and it’s time to take the party outside. In honor of long evenings, long weekends and unforgettable days with friends, we’ve launched our first limited release Sauvignon Blanc.
View Article
