Stop, Breathe, Repeat

For the modern, working Indian navigating the daily chaos of the city and the Internet, Sukhvilas is an oasis of calm.

- Arnika Thakur

WHAT DO OVERWORKED AND tired city-dwellers do to detox or rejuvenate? There is a list of things to try from yoga retreats to meditation and diet plans. How about forest bathing and Ayurveda? The Japanese concept of Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is a simple technique of walking among trees, and just breathing and taking in the forest. It has been practised in Japan since the 1980s and is known to lower blood pressure, reduce production of stress hormones, and boost the immune system. In other words, it is an ideal solution for the aching bones and brains of those keeping up with the demands of modern life. While you could recharge your batteries with a trip to the nearest hill station, we might have found a spot that provides all of these experiences and some more: Oberoi Group’s spa resort Sukhvilas in the foothills of the Himalayas in Punjab.