A normal day in the life of a Temple student can get repetitive and tiring. Living in a city means constant movement, weird smells and loud sounds at all hours of the day. Approaching the middle of the semester, I started to feel the weight of both the city and school heavy on my shoulders. With midterms around the corner, it’s easy to feel stressed out. I realized I needed a break.
Looking for stress outlets became my new favorite pastime, but face masks, meditative music and journaling started to feel repetitive as well. That’s when I heard about something called “Forest Bathing.” Before you ask, no, Forest Bathing does not require you to strip your clothes and frolic in the woods. Forest bathing comes from the term “shinrin yoku” directly translated from Japanese to mean “forest bathing,” which is an outdoor activity commonly used to heal the mind. To do this one must essentially unplug from the outside world and take in their natural surroundings. I know what you’re thinking, “so it’s a glorified hike?”, no there’s actually more to it than that. To truly forest bathe, you must relax your mind, retreat from social media and truly become present in the moment.
Reading about a nature trend when you live in the city is intriguing. I decided that a good bath in the forest was just the outlet that I needed to truly recharge. My park of choice was the Wissahickon of Chestnut Hill, an 1,800 acre hiking trail that runs along the Wissahickon Creek. And with just five bucks and a forty-minute train ride, I stepped into the tranquility that I needed.
Getting off the train, I immediately sensed a lightness and could practically feel my city troubles roll off my back and out of site. The walk from the train station only took five minutes, and as fast as turning a corner, I found myself immersed in nature. The uneven stone trails made way to the greenery of the forest. Before I knew it, I was out of breath, from both the walk in and the intense beauty of my surroundings. The foliage from above is so thick that the sunlight dances on the forest floor every time the wind blows, and the sound of the creek is a steady lull that guided me along the trail. The Wissahickon’s plethora of winding trails made me want to stay all day exploring different routes, but since I only had a few hours, I took the trail to see the majestic statue of Teedyuscung. The statue overlooks the foliage of the Wissahickon park and makes for a fun hike up. Climbing the switchbacks was as energizing as it was beautiful, around every bend a new view. Finally reaching the plateau of the hill, there I sat with good ole Teddy, peering out onto the Wissahickon. It was here that I was really able to settle. For the first time in months I could hear all of my thoughts. I’m sure we’ve all heard people say that nature can have healing effects on the mind and body, but it is here sitting on the edge of the lookout that you can feel that the most. Being able to look out into the trees and breathe in the rich woodland air relaxes your body and almost reflexively you settle into the moment.
Leaving that view at the top of the trail was hard, but I knew that I would be able to carry that energy for a while. I didn’t notice until I got onto the train that I hadn’t pulled out my phone since I found the entrance the trail. Although turning off your phone is not an absolute requirement of the “bath,” I highly encourage it. In an age where the pressure to share all of your experiences is high, there is something to be said about going out and experiencing something only for yourself, and this experience is one that you’ll want to be selfish about.
Want to go to the Wissahickon too? It’s as easy as four steps:
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Get $5 cash
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Take the train from Temple University to Chestnut Hill via, Chestnut Hill West Line
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Get off the train at the last stop and take a short walk to the trial entrance
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R-E-L-A-X