Breathe in the Forest Air

I gently rub the needles of Eastern Hemlock between my fingertips and heel of my hand. Bringing my hand up to my nose I inhale the rich, unmistakable aroma of the forest. I stand with others in the hemlock grove, inhaling deeply and slowly exhaling.
I’m participating in a therapeutic hike conducted by folks from Canyon Ranch at Mount Greylock State Reservation. The practice of garnering healthful benefits from the forest started in Japan and is called shinrin-yoku, translated as “forest bathing.”