How urban dwellers in India are getting drawn to forest bathing

Experience forest bathing, a practice rooted in Shinrin-Yoku for mental wellness and relaxation.

Beneath the towering canopy of trees in the green serenity of Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu, a small group of people walks slowly and deliberately. They pause to hear the calming symphony of Nature, feel the texture of leaves, inhale the earthy fragrance of the forest. A few minutes later, they meet at a spot to share their experiences and introspect as their guide Aashish Amalraj leads the group to conclude a two-hour session of forest bathing.

Forest bathing is getting increasingly popular across India, drawing people to swap screens for foliage. A practice rooted in the Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, it is a simple way to relax the mind and revitalise the body.

Based in Chennai, Aashish grappled with the hustle of corporate life before he became acquainted with forest bathing in 2019. He soon found himself drawn towards the calming effects of Nature after attending a training programme and decided to give up his corporate career to start his own group called Affirming Hearts. Aashish has been conducting forest bathing walks, retreats and corporate sessions in Chennai, Madurai, Kodaikanal, Tiruvannamalai and Vijayawada.

“In today’s fast paced world where our senses are over-stimulated most of the times, we are a lot more disconnected with Nature. Forest bathing makes it easy to reach a peaceful state of mind by paying attention to our senses and moving in the forest mindfully,” says Aashish, who has conducted forest bathing sessions at Adyar Eco-Park in Chennai and currently hosts sessions at Marina beach on the same principles, which include opening up of all five senses to the surrounding environment.

According to him, an increasing number of corporates now understand the importance of mental well-being and its connection with Nature. For his corporate sessions, Aashish creates a simulated forest environment within the office premises. “We give them a glimpse of forest bathing in an indoor space by bringing in elements like plants and different objects from Nature such as shells, leaves for texture and potpourri to engage the sense of smell,” says Aashish.

The real teacher is the forest, says Nitin Das, a filmmaker and founder of the collective Healing Forest. “Nature helps us in becoming free of negative thoughts that pull us down, and through the walks we find answers to difficult questions which brings clarity to our lives,” says Nitin, who recently shifted to Pune from New Delhi.

Nitin is one of the first forest bathing guides in India and has been instrumental in spreading awareness about its benefits through walks and training programmes. His five-minute film How Forests Heal People that was released on YouTube and other social media platforms in 2016 has garnered over 10 million views. In Pune, he conducts periodical forest bathing walks in the green spaces of the city.