Shinrin yoku (or how to do forest bathing in Athens)

Shinrin yoku. No, it is not a new temple of Asian gastronomy. It is a trend, it is a philosophy of life, it is a natural method of being cool and zen. To make a long story short, you will find Shinrin yoku also as Forest Bathing. This ancient Japanese practice is a process of relaxation, known in Japan as  the simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you whilst breathing deeply can help both adults and children de-stress and boost health and wellbeing in a natural way. Forests and Parks in Attica to discover the power of the nature.

ATHENS, CENTER

National Garden / Its old name was Royal Garden, because it was founded by Queen Amalia in 1836. Its formation began in 1839-1840 with the planting of 15,000 ornamental plants from Milan. Among the plants associated with its history are the age-old holly oaks, the casuarinas, the Tuscan and Mediterranean cypress and the Canary Island date palms. It includes lakes, ancient ruins, as well as a sundial. Open from sunrise to sunset.

Zappeio Hall / About 83 acres of greenery function as a natural continuation of the National Garden. The statues and busts of important Greek politicians, kings and historians that are hosted in the courtyard of the Palace, capture a large part of modern Greek history. zappeion.gr

Eleftheria (Freedom) Park / Next to the Athens Concert Hall with easy access from the metro. Its trademark, the statue of Eleftherios Venizelos, work of the sculptor G. Pappas and the grass hills. At the back, the preserved stone buildings were used for military purposes during the Balkan Wars. Its name is due to the fact that fighters for democracy were imprisoned there during the dictatorship. Tour the Music and Arts Centre of the Municipality of Athens, the “Eleftherios Venizelos” Museum and the Museum of Anti-Dictatorship and Democratic Resistance.

Athens Concert Hall Garden / Behind the Concert Hall, the area is verdant, with tall trees, colourful flowers and extensive lawns. The Garden is open to the public daily from 10 in the morning until sunset and in the summer it hosts musical events of the Concert Hall. megaron.gr

Pedion tou Areos / A large public park that runs parallel to Alexandras Avenue and has given its name to the district that surrounds it. Its area exceeds 250 acres and in its premises there are sculptures and monuments of different periods.

Filopappou Hill / A forest in the city with rich fauna with rare species of turtles and over 120 different species of birds. In addition to the monument of Philopappos, it includes the Pikionis paving and the Loumbardiaris chapel.

Pagrati Grove / It was created in 1908 by planting trees on an area of many acres, initially with pines, while other plants of Mediterranean origin were added later.

Attiko Alsos / It is located on the border of Athens, Galatsi and Psychiko at the tip of the Tourkovounia range. It has an area of about 600 acres and hosts at least 95 species of birds. It includes an open-air theater, a summer cinema, ten tennis, volleyball and basketball courts and two playgrounds.

Aesthetic woods of Hymettus / On the west side of Mount Hymettus, it has an extensive network of paths of various sizes. There are interesting monasteries and chapels, while you can exercise freely on the roads, paths and in specially designed areas in Kalopoula, Agios Ioannis Prodromos, Agios Georgios Koutalas, Pyrgos and in the squares of Kaisariani Monastery.