Welcome to

THE BLOG

Give Yourself a Break | Shinrin-Yoku Invitations

You probably know that I text with my Mom once a day and Skype once a week. What you may not know is that, during these Skype sessions, she is the one doing most of the talking while I just let her yammer away and vent whatever is on her mind, without much of a chance at putting in a word edgewise. That is because my Mom is always ON, and does not know what it means to truly relax, to switch off for even just a couple of hours.

.

Shinrin-Yoku-Forest-Therapy-Invitation-1

.

This situation is created by life circumstances that are too lengthy and complicated to explain – as family dynamics usually are – and that – in her case – go on from the moment she lost her mother at the age of three. She is now a spunky seventy-three-year-old who does not look a day over fifty-five, and although she is overall healthy, she recently discovered that she has high blood pressure. This scared her, and for a moment, her temporary panic created a breech into which I was able to drop some simple suggestions.

Among these simple tips – and they had to be simple or I knew she would not follow through – I suggested that she take five or ten minutes a couple of times a day, go someplace quiet and private where she would not be disturbed, and take five slow and long-drawn breaths. I had to give her a number. Simply telling her to go, be calm and breathe deeply would have been too vague. Knowing that the deep long breaths required were (only) five, and there was nothing else complicated around that, gave her mind something structured to hold on to, and also defined the amount of time involved.

.

Tender-green-leaves-of-spring-garden

.

Miracles do happen, and she actually started doing it. This was a couple of weeks ago. For a few days thereafter, I bugged her via text to make sure she was not cheating, now I do not have to anymore. A few hours ago, during our Skype session, she spontaneously shared that she is really enjoying doing the deep breathing, that she does it several times a day, including when she goes out at night to walk the dog, and that this is really helping her feel better. She added that, at first, she was finding it difficult to take deep breaths, but now she feels her lungs expanding and the breathing is more open and free.

“What have I been trying to tell you all these years?!?!” – but I did not say that. I just quietly congratulated myself for my tiny bit of success. Catching the opportunity I added that, when the weather allows, she should try doing the long breaths in the garden, preferably near some trees, to get even more benefit. I explained this was due to the organic compounds released by trees that are beneficial for our wellbeing, especially conifers. She said she would.

One step at a time.

.

Clearing-in-the-forest-with-autumn-leaves

.

This long story to explain how the idea came to me of sharing with you little Shinrin-Yoku invitations that are simple to do and will not take up much of your time. I thought that, like my Mom, some of you might  also need to decompress, and although we all know the overall how-to of de-stressing, sometimes a little simple structure is what we need to get us started.

.

Pink-azaleas-in-bloom

.

My plan is to post, once a week, a little invitation based on my forest therapy training and personal experience. These invitations will be simple and short, and, though best done in a semi-wild forest setting when the opportunity is there, a park, garden or even back yard will do for every day.

The one at the top of this post is the first one. After this, every Friday you will find a new one posted at this dedicated page. I will, of course, announce it each time through social media, and you will also find a widget in the sidebar that will make  it easy for you to find the invitations’ page. Once a month, I will refresh the page and start over.

.

Air-plant-hosted-by-a-tree-at-a-botanical-garden-in-Honolulu-Oahu-Hawaii

.

You can print the invitations out, if you like, so you do not have to memorize them, and keep them with you somewhere handy throughout the week. As more invitations are added, you can do just the single one, or also combine them together, one after the other, expanding the benefit of your time in nature. You can also modify them to suit your comfort, location and the weather. They are, after all, just that: invitations. You can accept them, or decline them as feels right to you.

My intention is to offer you something simple and easy that will make you feel better afterwards.

It will be like joining me on a Shinrin-Yoku walk from wherever you are.

.

Pink-camellia-with-bokeh-in-a-garden-setting

.

I hope you will enjoy my idea and my invitations, and feel free to share them with your family and friends.

For those of you unfamiliar with the practice of Shinrin-Yoku, you can read more about it here.

.

.

8 comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

  • Diantha01/16/2016 - 1:29 pm

    What a lovely post! Looking forward to listening to your wisdom and guidance!
    xoReplyCancel

    • Monica Schwartz01/16/2016 - 6:17 pm

      Thank you, Diantha. I am so glad you enjoyed it. I am looking forward to sharing more. <3ReplyCancel

  • anne gilmer01/17/2016 - 1:12 pm

    Superb..THANKSReplyCancel

    • Monica Schwartz01/17/2016 - 3:44 pm

      Thank you, Anne. I am so happy you have enjoyed it! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Linda01/18/2016 - 11:41 am

    Thank you for sharing such beauty and wisdom. I look forward to more.
    LINDAReplyCancel

    • Monica Schwartz01/18/2016 - 12:06 pm

      You are very welcome, Linda. I am so happy you enjoyed it. Will post another one on Friday morning. <3ReplyCancel

  • Mary12/30/2019 - 4:05 pm

    Love this! I also recently started leading Shinrin-yoku walks, and want to do a blog for my area . It is sorely needed in our overwhelming plugged in culture! Great for EVERYBODY , from little kids to us older folks. My grands love it too!ReplyCancel

    • Monica Schwartz12/30/2019 - 6:30 pm

      Hi Mary: It is such a wonderful practice that takes you deeper into nature in a way that a simple walk or hike just won’t do. I am glad you love it like I do!
      You should definitely blog about your experiences.
      Happy New Year to you and happy new decade, too!!ReplyCancel

Sign up for my Newsletter

Subscribe-to-Life-Out-of-Bounds

In the Kitchen

Recipes-for-Spring

Free Gifts

Free-Wallpapers-widget
Summer Solstice 2025
ShinrinYoku-Invitations-Widget

Support this Blog

Buy-Me-A-Cup-of-Tea-and-support-this-blog-donation

Latest Posts

Currently Reading

Current-Reading-List-April-24

Healthy Living

Color-and-wellbeing
Shinrin-Yoku-forest-bathing-forest-therapy

Popular Posts

Explore

Travel-and-explore-California
Travel-and-explore-Hawaii
Travel-and-explore-Italy

Featured Posts

Cute Wigglers

Photo-stories-of-cute-dogs

Don’t Miss

Support this blog with a donation

Follow me on Instagram

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mothers and to all those who have been mothering in some way.
Here is mine. She no longer looks quite like this, though this is how I think of her and I am sure this is how she thinks of herself.

The main thing is that she is still with us, despite all the challenges. I get to talk to her every day and will be spending more time with her in a few weeks. That is a blessing I don’t take lightly. 
🩷🌸🩷
M
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#loob_portraiture #mothersday #environmentalportrait #inthegarden #beautifulwoman #Italianmothers #portraiture #portrait #mothersday2025 #mothersdayweekend #mothersdayflowers #motherlove #motherdaughterlove #motherdaughterbond 
.
.
.
© Monica Schwartz - all rights reserved.
For those who have missed it or who don’t get my newsletter, there is a new post on the blog in which I share about my personal experiences with various holistic treatments and therapies on my wellness journey.

It is the 5th installment in my Self Help series, which begins with chapter one and dealing with panic attacks. You can easily find the previous 4 once you get to this newest one. The link is in profile under “latest post”, or you can comment WELLBEING below and I will be happy to send you the link directly.

Don’t you just love peonies?
Love and blessings,
Monica
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#loob_selfhelp #holisticwellbeing #mindfulness #healthyliving #anxietyrelief #deepbreathing #peonies #stilllifephotography #fineartphotography #selfcarepractice #mindfulpractice
Good Morning!

The official rose month is just around the corner, and there are already roses blooming everywhere in my neck of the woods. Yesterday on my walk I literally stopped and smelled the roses: heavenly!

I wanted to let you know that the new Calendar Wallpaper will be coming your way tomorrow, and on Friday I will be publishing a new post, which will be first announced in the newsletter coming your way on the same day. 

So you might want to keep an eye on your inbox, and if you have not yet subscribed and would like to, you can easily do so at the link in profile, or you can comment SUBSCRIBE and I will message you the link directly.

Blessings and love,
Monica
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#loob_nature #roses #gardendesign #gardenflowers #gardenlovers #iloveroses #flowerslover #mayroses #mayflowers #mymomentswithflowers #gardenphotography #naturephotography #gardenlife #homesandgardens #gardentherapy #shinrinyoku #naturehealsthesoul #newsletter #nothingisordinary #springweather #mindfulpractice #earthmedicine #breathedeeply #sacrednature #theitaliangarden #naturalliving #natureloverforlife #countrylife #naturewalk #roseseason 
.
.
.
© Monica Schwartz - all rights reserved. Do not reproduce in any way without written permission.
Good Morning!

This exquisite Classic English kitchen in Southeast London caught my eye as it popped into my inbox a few days ago. 

I have not shared any home design inspiration for some time, for all the same reasons why I had not posted or sent out newsletters for sometime. But make no mistake: my love for interior design and architecture has not dulled one iota. Actually, it is even stronger.

Take a look on the blog (link in profile under Latest Post) for images, story and description of this moody-done-right kitchen.

Wishing you an easy rest of the week!
xoxo
Monica
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#loob_homedesign #kitchendesign #interiordesign #classicenglishkitchen #oldhouseappreciation #homerenovation #oldhouselove #historichomes #houseportrait #kitchengoals #kitchenremodel #georgianhome #kitchendesignideas #kitchendesigner #kitchendesigninspiration #londonarchitecture #kitchendesigntrends #moodyinteriors #moodyinteriorstyle #darkandmoodyinteriors #moodyinteriorsuk #moodyinteriorsdoneright #copper #homedecor #madeinengland #kitchencabinetry #customkitchens #copperkitchen #kitchencolorscheme #kitchencolorsideas 
@devolkitchens