Hugging Trees Barefoot: A Simple Act With Potential Benefits
Hugging trees barefoot can calm your mind, ease stress, and reconnect you with nature. A simple act that brings peace, balance, and joy.
In today’s fast world filled with screens and noise, connecting with nature can feel deeply healing.
One simple way to do that is by hugging trees barefoot, a practice that helps your body and mind feel grounded and calm.
Walking barefoot on soil or grass, called “grounding,” allows your body to absorb the Earth’s natural energy, which may reduce inflammation and increase serotonin, the “happy” hormone. When you hug a tree barefoot, you connect even more deeply — your skin touches the bark, your feet touch the earth, and your mind feels at peace.
This natural act can also reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve mood. Studies on “forest bathing” show that spending time around trees relaxes the body and boosts immunity. Tree bark releases natural compounds like phytoncides that can help reduce anxiety and lift your mood.
Going barefoot also strengthens your feet, improves balance, and increases body awareness. Hugging a tree can even release oxytocin, the “love hormone,” making you feel comforted and emotionally lighter.
To try it safely, find a healthy tree in a calm place. Remove your shoes, feel the ground, and gently hug the trunk for a few minutes while breathing deeply.
Tree hugging gained fame when Ghanaian forestry student Abubakar Tahiru hugged 1,123 trees in one hour, setting a world record.
So, take a break from screens, step outside, and try hugging a tree — you might just find peace in the simplest touch of nature.
