Between a human and a tree is the breath. We are each other’s air
— Margaret Bates
Reciprocal Breathing is a term coined by American nature educator Joseph Bharat Cornell. He describes beautifully how an average-sized tree releases enough oxygen each day to sustain four people.
This session, called Reciprocal Forest Breath, gives you the chance to experience all the life-giving, detoxing, immune-boosting and emotional clearing that comes with a Conscious Connected Breath session, but this time, out in nature. And trust me, the experience of breathing outdoors is incredible, but not only that, we’ll work with the trees to create a symbiotic interaction between you and the forest. As you breathe in deeply, you’ll feel your lungs filling with life-giving oxygen passed to you the trees and as you exhale, you’ll gratefully return the favour, offering carbon dioxide back to them.
It’s a beautiful exchange and experience and one that integrates my love of the forest through the subtle nod to Shinrin-yoku, plus my belief that when we breathe, we are cleansing and renewing at a deep and profound level of our being. To gain an insight into this experience, I've created this short film, shot in the stunning ancient woodland of Staffhurst Woods in Kent.
On the underside of a leaf are the largest number of tiny openings (stomata) through which air enters and exits a tree. Reach out and gently hold a leaf, bringing your nose close to the leaf’s underside. Inhale the oxygen released by the tree and then exhale carbon dioxide into the leaf. As you breathe in and out, be aware of how interconnected you are with the forest, and of the reciprocal relationship all beings have with one another.
— Joseph Bharat Cornell
To book a Reciprocal Forest Breath session click here.