I recently wrote about exploring new run habits (hello, post-run mini-meditation). While I’m getting all hippie on you, here’s a run recovery idea for you: Forest Bathing (the Japanese version AND a foot soak).
After a recent 90º run, I went for a bike ride to nearby Marott Park. It is a 100-acre nature preserve right in the middle of Indy, and a go-to spot for me. I take my dogs there for mini-adventures and I’ve used the steep climbs for power hike repeats when I was ultra training.
A babbling creek that is but a few inches deep (most times of the year, depending on rainfall) snakes through the woods. I wore my Tevas so I could take the short hike to the creek and dip my feet into the water before biking home.
Just entering the wooded canopy, the temperature dropped about 10 degrees. At first, I walked briskly, intent on getting to the creek, my main destination. But then I slowed myself down. What was my hurry?
Just being there in the shade amongst the trees, breathing, cooling down was so good for my soul. It’s actually a Japanese practice—forest bathing or shinrin-yoku. Moving slowly through the forest.
It can be hard to change gears from running or biking to taking a snail’s pace, but this is how to notice the way the sunlight filters through the leaves and makes shadows, or to see the mushrooms ringing a decomposing log. I almost mistook a toad for a rock, but I was slow and watching, and so I noticed.
I could have taken all day—the creek was there waiting for me. The water stays refreshing and cool, even on super hot days. I couldn’t believe how revived I felt. I’m wondering now why I haven’t made this a habit after my hot weather runs, especially the long ones.