An Investigation about Spa Service
Forest bathing is a kind of activity where one can appreciate the beauty and the benefits of walking into the woods and interacting with nature. It is the literal translation of the Japanese word shinrin-yoku where the trend originated. In 1982, the government of Japan encouraged people living in urban areas to immerse themselves in nature for health purposes. In the United States, over 70% of people live in urbanized areas and because of that, people are spending lesser time in nature compared to the previous decades. The concept of this trend revolves around the simple practice of quietly walking and exploring the forest. Hiking in the forest has been found to be beneficial as one wanders slowly into the woods; they can relax their nerves while breathing fresh air which is good for one’s health (Spafinder Wellness, Inc., 2015, p. 5).
According to various researches about health impact of forest bathing, it was revealed that the activity significantly reduces hypertension as it lowers blood pressure and heart rate and it also relaxes the nerves compared to city walks. It was also found to alleviate stress and depression to some people. Many of these studies concluded that this may be because of the exposure to an airborne chemical called phytoncides which is emitted by trees. It was found out that this chemical has a long lasting effect on a person’s immune system and it is also a natural killer of cancer cells and proteins. Aside from Japan, it has been popular in other Asian countries like Taiwan, Korea and India (Spafinder Wellness, Inc., 2015, p. 6).
With this growing trend, there are already a number of established spas that offer forest bathing around the globe. The Sante Spa Victoria which is housed within the Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Golf Resort & Spa in Victoria, British Columbia offers Goldstream Provinicial Park hike for their customers. The Homestead at Corbett Country in India is also offering forest bathing to the people who come there. The ambience of the place and the hospitality of the owners got positive reviews from their clients. Visitors can have their walks around the village anytime which is filled with trees and it nature views. Meanwhile, the L’Auberge de Sedona in the stunning red rocks of Sedona, Arizona just recently introduced their forest bathing program for their guests. Their program is designed to help their visitors to connect with nature on a deeper level. They are also offering healing talks and the gentle walk along Oak Creek which are led by certified forest bathing experts.
Since many people are now living in urbanized areas, customers tend to appreciate outdoor activities more when they are on vacation. Based on the customer reviews of the spas’ website, they enjoyed hiking without pressure in the forest and the trails. People tend to appreciate nature more because it is very different from the busy streets of the city and the stressful lifestyle that they have at home. So far, the customers have a positive feedback on these services and that is the reason why it is one of the trends in 2015. Since it is proven that enjoying a day or two outside in the forest or being one with nature will reduce stress levels, more and more people are giving positive reviews on their forest bathing experience to encourage other people to try it on their next vacation.
Aside from the increasing government support by helping to preserve forests around the country, the trend will continue to evolve as many spas will employ specialists and design different trails for their potential customers. Since Japan started the trend in the past few decades, forest bathing has slowly evolved into a professional forest therapy in which certified specialist will accompany patients or visitors to specially designed trailed depending on the needs of the person. Many spa owners will invest in researching trails and forest bathing programs that will address specific health concerns like heart ailments or mental issues like anxiety or depression. This has already begun in Japan and in Finland, and spas around the country will sure to follow. With that, many studies and researches will continue to follow to learn more about the effects of forest bathing.
Apart from that, since there are already existing studies that prove the positive effect of this activity, doctors and physicians will eventually prescribe this activity for therapy and also recovery from physical injuries. As a matter of fact, there are already doctors in the country which prescribe “nature” for young individuals who have conditions like obesity and asthma to be able to encourage them to go out and appreciate nature. This is also being done in other countries like New Zealand. Lastly, there are a number of potential products which a spa owner can invest in to increase sales. In Korea, there are forest essential oils with phytoncides which can help their customers simulate forest bathing inside the sauna or inside the home. It is also important to invest in products like these to encourage people to try to go out to nature and experience the outdoors.
With the evolution of this trend, there are a lot of opportunities that accompany forest bathing programs. As a spa director, it would be beneficial to invest in a facility which offers this program because of the benefits it can give its customers. In order to start with this, a secured land near the forest must be purchased and all the necessary legalities must be done. It is also important to employ professionals on trailing and hiking in order to learn more of the specific safe trails available in the area. As a spa owner, it is also important to understand how to protect the forests and nature so that customers and the business can both benefit from it. Lectures on nature protection policies and benefits of these activities should also be given before the activities so that people will also have increased knowledge on forest bathing and protecting the environment.
References
Spafinder Wellness, Inc. (2015). Top 10 Global Spa and Wellness Trends Forecast. Retrieved from Spafinder Wellness, Inc. website: http://www.spafinder.com/blog/trends/2015-report/forest-bathing/
