Forest Bathing, Explained.

Remember hearing stories of our ancestors, who were hunters and gatherers who roamed the woods for food? From searching for sustenance to knowing what time of day it was, they were co-dependent with sylvan nature. Human life has historically been interwoven with life in the woods.

A tree in the forest does so much to accommodate our needs - it shelters our stray Indies, becomes a pillar to hang a string of lights, bears fresh seasonal fruits, poses as a subject for an artist, rustles its leaves to calm the restless…

And now, even though our lives are majorly indoors, notice how our instinct is still to seek peace in the great outdoors. This practice of connecting with nature and disconnecting from the distractions of daily life is called ‘forest bathing’.

森林浴: the origins.

森林浴, or shinrin-yoku, is a term labelled by Tomohide Akiyama of the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in 1982. The word comprises three Japanese kanji characters: 森, meaning “forest”, 林 representing the interconnectedness of trees in the forest, and 浴 is the bliss of simply existing in nature’s abundance.

While the essence of forest bathing has been known and practised by us for thousands of years, the term caught on when Akiyama studied the effects of phytoncides in nature and their mental, emotional, and physical health benefits for us.

The remarkable benefits of forest bathing.

It is known that spending time in the woods does wonders for your mental health in helping you combat incessant overthinking. Something we could use these days!

Simply strolling through a forested area can do so much for us on a physical and subatomic level. Spirituality and science merge to support this therapeutic practice.

Forest bathing is backed up by Science.

Phytoncides are tree-derived volatile organic compounds that possess anti-infectant properties. Not only do they protect trees from viral threats, but they also purify the aura around them. As we stroll past the trees, we inhale these carbon-based gases. The more time we spend in forests, the more we absorb phytoncides and elevate feelings of calmness.

The International Journal of Environmental Health Research states that just two hours of forest bathing can significantly increase white blood cells in our bodies, thanks to the phytoncide compound. Large, dense trees give off phytoncides that strengthen us and bind ozone and monoxide gases to purify our air.

“One nature trip is not enough to heal, but it can be an impetus for a change in lifestyle.” - Liisa Tyrv?inen, Natural Resources Institute Finland

Forests in Farmplots.

The luxury of life is to be able to forest bathe every day, whenever you want, in any season. As housing developers, we hold the key to revolutionising the lifestyles we impart to our residents by curating forests in farm plots.

Imagine an 1800 sq. yd. farm plot with a full-fledged, quasi-natural forest attached. The magic of having an uninterrupted forest belt in your backyard - is an experience we design for our residents at Woods Shamshabad.

We did this by building 18 acres of man-made forest using the Miyawaki method of afforestation. Miyawaki forests are dense, multi-layered ecosystems designed to mimic the structure and diversity of natural forests. Integrating a forest into our farm plot venture allows our residents to reap the benefits of forest bathing right at their doorstep.

Good habits set by your home.

Most city folk have rare experiences in a forest, usually during occasional treks when on holiday. Our busy city lives keep us away from such greenery - only accessible during our “time off”.

A few privileged ones retire in their 60s amid the wilderness, away from the bustling city - in a phase of introspection and, often, isolation.

What if it were possible to have intimate daily access to nature while being a part of a metropolitan city?

Forest bathing as a lifestyle is easy to inculcate when your home enables it. When building this project, we envisioned how the 153 medicinal, aromatic and flowering plant species would inspire residents to embrace the nature-centric lifestyle. Here, the opportunities to forest bathe are endless in the company of 4,50,000 native trees.

Pick a spot by the 70-year-old Secretariat tree. Pause by the purple Hibiscus plants and inhale the sweet scent of the Neem Chamelis. Walk past the massive palm trees on a windy day and listen to them sing.

Forest Bathing in Hyderabad.

The projects under 'Woods' by Stonecraft Group prioritise the interests of the environment first. In doing so, we develop farm plots that encourage our residents to develop an affinity towards nature. These farm plots inherently endorse forest bathing in Hyderabad. By building with a bias towards nature, our company's pioneering project is Woods Shamshabad, the world's largest Miyawaki Forest - a total of 18 acres of forest area.

Woods Shamshabad now houses over 4,50,000 native Indian trees, over 130 species of migratory and resident birds, and 60 acres of project land with 100 units of individual plots.

Contact our sales team to know more. (Phase II is coming soon!)