PARCO DEL RESPIRO
THE SECRET OF A HEALING FOREST: FROM JAPAN, A PRACTICE THAT REDUCES STRESS AND ANXIETY… YOU CAN EXPERIENCE IT IN FAI DELLA PAGANELLA
The forest of Fai della Paganella, where Parco del Respiro was born, is a place open to everyone. The only ticket you should pay consists of “a pact”: to respect the forest, because each one of us is responsible for its beauty, cleanliness and health. Only in this way can it regenerate us and make us feel good like no other place. We are waiting for you!
Nature: generator of well-being, simple but effective practices to improve health and experience their influence on the psycho-emotional, sensory, chemical and energetic levels. All this creates what we can define a “Therapeutic Wellness Park” unique in Europe.
It is an opportunity to be lived in Fai della Paganella, in Trentino, within a wonderful beech forest: a natural oasis of rare beauty, which is also a treasure trove of human health resources.
Forest bathing
THE SEARCH FOR PSYCHOPHYSICAL WELL-BEING
This is the purpose of the practice that the Japanese have called “Shinrin Yoku”, known in the western world as “Forest bathing”. In Japan this practice has ancient traditions, based on the simple observation of the fact that the frequent visitors of forests fall ill more rarely.
From the beginning of the 1980s the Japanese government has promoted forest bathing as a healthy activity with considerable success. The therapeutic value of this practice has then been demonstrated over the past 15 years, with the studies of several researchers, especially some doctors of the Nippon Medical School in Tokyo.
Forest bathing brings numerous benefits to the body and mind, with positive effects on the cardiovascular system, reduction of stress hormones, improvement of mood and cognitive abilities. However, the most important discovery of Japanese researchers concerned the positive action on the immune system of some components of the essential oils naturally emitted by trees: breathing the air enriched with these substances (monoterpenes) determines an increase in the number and activity of our lymphocytes, especially those cells (Natural Killer lymphocytes) responsible for the control of viruses and tumours.
But how can we practise forest bathing, and which trees emit more monoterpenes?
Your safety in the woods
In the mountains and in general in the woods you can find dangers of different kinds and levels.
Slippery ground, fog, cold, gusts of wind and thunderstorms are some of the events that can be dangerous in this area. Prevention is very important; there are some tools like checking weather reports, knowing how to interpret hiking maps, wearing appropriate shoes and clothing and following the marked paths.
It is fundamental to use the right equipment such as good footwear, technical clothing and enough food and beverages. If necessary, technical equipment and a small first aid kit make the hike more safe. Remember that wearing long trousers and mountain boots can protect you from insects, ticks
and vipers.
In any case, hiking in the company of others is safer. Alternatively, you can tell your acquaintances the planned itinerary.
Other potential dangers can be those related to intoxication or poisoning caused by the ingestion of herbs, berries or mushrooms, for which, by the way, a picking permit is required. Do not pick or taste anything if you do not have the adequate knowledge or if you are not with qualified people.
Wild animals are afraid of humans as well as of dogs and our presence could terrify them. Therefore, do not try to get too close; if you see an animal, observe it from a distance and remain on the path you are walking.
It is absolutely forbidden to feed animals; they know how to find food autonomously and our behaviour, even if in good faith, could be harmful or even
fatal to them. Keep your dog on a leash; even if the dog is obedient, instinct can often push them to chase, and even kill, wild animals. In addition, their encounter with wilderness can become a vehicle for pests and diseases, sometimes also dangerous for humans.
In case of encounters with baby animals, such as deer and roe deer, or with injured animals, it is important to avoid touching them; this is not just because they could transfer diseases and parasites, but also because by getting close we could scare them, worsen their situation or even get attacked. You may contact the Trentino Forestry Corps using the emergency phone number 112.
Fai della Paganella is reported as a bear transit area. Bears are by nature cautious and wary, especially of humans. They usually behave in a shy and fearful
way and, like the majority of wild animals, they prefer to avoid human beings. Bears do not attack unless somehow provoked. A fundamental rule to avoid too close encounters is to remove the element of surprise: if humans suddenly appear without warning of their presence, bears may feel threatened and could react defensively. [ USEFUL TIPS ]
Do not leave your waste on the site, always take them back with yourself. You will find very few bins for garbage collection; this is because their presence would cause a number of issues: they could be overturned or ransacked by wild animals, and, as a consequence, all the waste would be scattered.
If you are a smoker, do not throw cigarette butts on the ground.
112 and “Where Are U” app
We recommend you download “Where Are U”, the official app of 112, the European Emergency Number.
Being located is fundamental to send faster and more precise help. Where Are U does it for you by automatically sending your location to the 112 operator who is managing your emergency.
If you cannot talk, select “silent call” or “call + chat” and indicate what type of intervention you need. The operator will know how to best manage the call and, if you request the chat, you will be recontacted.
The App is available for iOs, Android and Windows Phone smartphones. You find it on Apple App store, Google Play Store o Windows Phone App Store.