Forest bathing & more: 6 places in North Carolina that help you reach a state of zen

Forest bathing & more: 6 places in North Carolina that help you reach a state of zen

These forest trails, lodges, and wellness retreats across North Carolina invite visitors to reach a state of zen. Twelve people walked silently on a wooded trail at Juneberry Ridge, a farm in a rural town about an hour east of Charlotte. Everyone in the group signed up for a weekend of wellness activities but were unsure about what comes with forest bathing—a new concept for all of them. A few worried about having to take off their clothes. For …

Headline: ‘The Nature Fix’: What Japanese Forest Bathing Reveals About Well-Being

As journalist and author Florence Williams found, nature deprivation is a global phenomenon. With more than half of the world’s population now living in cities, it’s an increasing trend many have likely experienced firsthand. As are prescriptions for antidepressants. Williams notes that one in four middle-aged American women takes or has taken antidepressants. Meanwhile, one in 14 children takes a drug for emotional or behavioral problems, refle…