MIND-BLOWING BENEFITS OF TREE-HUGGING
Forests and wooded areas are my soul place. I was always incredibly drawn to them, even as a child, and that feeling has only amplified over the years. Every visit to a dense forest is an emotionally moving experience for me. Something about the trees is so mesmerising and touching. The silence in the depths of the forests, feels like the pin-drop silence in a church before the commencement of a sermon. Answers to my problems emerge in the quiet and murmurs of a forest. When I go into a forest with a turbulent mind, my mind clears out, like the muddy, turbid water which becomes transparent once the dirt settles after it is allowed to sit. My first foray into a wooded area happened after I failed to qualify for a medical seat which disturbed me deeply. And a strange force overtook me and sucked me into a forest near my house in Hyderabad.
Prior to this, the farthest I had ventured was to the fringes of this forest, where my buddies and I occasionally went hunting with our catapults or shared stories of the recent movies we had seen sitting on large rocks that abounded there. But on that day the forest tugged me in. I felt no fear or apprehension whatsoever as I felt led by some strange benevolent spirit that seemed to wish everything best for me. The deeper I ventured into the forest, the more mystical and spellbinding it became to me. The thick and lush canopies of the towering trees shielding the forest floor from the Sun created an eeriness that would have scared me otherwise. I found dried fallen leaves embellishing the soil in magnificent greens and cheerful yellows. The woody incense from broken branches rotting and composting silently on the jungle floor rose like a vapour and filled my nostrils. The expanse of glorious trees that reached out and towered into the skies appeared to outdo one another in the demonstration of their devotion to the Sun God, who in turn, pleased by their love, seemed to shine the benevolence of golden glow on them, making the leaves of the tree glimmer and shimmer in his luminance. Then the wind blew, and the trees and leaves swayed to their tune and rhythm.
Inside the woods the soul of creation was boisterous. As if the choir composed of flora and fauna were singing the melody of creation. The crickets and sudden gusts of wind occasionally pierced the eerie silence of the woods. At one point, a troupe of shambling squirrels traversed the winding trail in front of me probably to forage. They seemed startled to see me. Then out of nowhere, a solitary songbird decided to express its joy with its unique melody, as other beaked counterparts joined in creating a symphony. The haunting melody which filled the forest air seemed like an elixir for my soul.
Suddenly, I heard some rustling noises of scuttling animals emerge from the depths of the woods, followed by the clicking of bats, the yelping of frogs and the buzzing of insects amidst the swishing of the cunningly woven webs of leaves. Instinctually, my being, simultaneously enraptured by the sheer beauty and fear, under a fight or flight response hid behind the trunk of a massive tree and embraced it like a frightened child embraces his mother. As I held on, I felt a deep sense of peace, stillness, and a sense of safety invade and anchor me to the moment’s beauty. And the overpowering silence inside the forest soothed my troubled mind and gave me the answers and a perspective on life with such profound clarity that later when I walked out of the forest, I was convinced that God had better plans for me. Looking back and connecting the dots, I feel grateful and indebted to the forest for providing my life with a better direction and a future than I was aspiring to at that time. Had I wallowed in self-pity and disappointment, and had I made wrong choices under the prevailing mood, I can’t imagine how misled my life would have been. I can’t thank the forest enough for donning the role of a spiritual guide and mentor during such trying times and for guiding me through tough times.
Hugging a tree is a meditative experience, for when we come in contact with a tree, the life force within us gets a taste of the life force pulsating through it. The trees vibrate at a higher frequency than humans, The life force of a tree is uncontaminated and not coloured with base desires like that of a human. A tree, unlike a human mind, is not occupied with doing nor is it busy hankering after possessions, or restless over something or the other. A tree is always in a state of meditation and perpetual bliss. Unlike the human mind, there is no guilt, taint, anger or resentment. So when humans embrace a tree, their minds and spirits, which are always restless and agitated, osmotically imbibe the deep serenity abiding inside a tree and leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
When we hug a tree, our awareness is greatly enhanced. Our entire body is involved in this experience. Our senses awaken, positive hormones are released, and our heart rate and breathing quiet down. The level of the hormone oxytocin, which is responsible for feeling calm and emotional bonding, increases when we hug a tree. Embracing a tree also increases serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters, making you feel serene and happy. Holistic healing happens when we spend time in forests, a spontaneous gift of nature. All these positive changes help us feel emotionally and physically better. Trees are like humans in many ways, and we can liken their tree rings to our fingerprints. They drink water like us and sweat ( transpire) like us. Like humans, they too have roots, and new research reveals that they live in communities like us. Finally, hugging a tree builds appreciation and gratitude for this outstanding aspect of nature. While we may enjoy a tree’s shade, fruit, or even a swing hanging from it, embracing the tree helps us connect to it more directly. Having a direct connection with the tree may also encourage us to work hard to protect it and plant more trees.
Everyone loves trees. They are beautiful, natural and straightforward. And they probably have more benefits than we think. Tree hugging is becoming popular with people trying to reconnect with nature and understand their environment better. Whether you believe it’s the best way to connect with nature or an idiotic fad, tree-hugging has some undeniable benefits. But what is this weird thing called “tree hugging” anyway? Tree hugging is also known as arboreal therapy or tree climbing therapy. It is a type of active meditation in which you climb a tree for a certain period every day to achieve a different state of mind and gain many benefits.Tree hugging is common for anyone seeking to reconnect with nature. People from all walks of life have taken to the new craze, which has proven benefits and consequences. Climbing trees is a beneficial exercise and can help you get closer to nature, reduce stress, and much more.
It is common knowledge that embracing the outdoors and spending time in nature can bring significant benefits. Another practice of tree-hugging is standing or kneeling beside it with one’s arms wrapped around it. This practice, too, has many positive benefits for your physical, mental, and spiritual health. A form of yoga called arboreal yoga which can also be considered as a form of tree hugging involves climbing trees and posing in unusual positions to complement the strength, flexibility, and balance gained from holding poses on the ground. While it might sound absurd initially, there are many benefits to arboreal yoga that you won’t find in other forms of yoga. And what’s more- you don’t need any special equipment or clothing to practice it!
Did you know that hugging a tree can also boost your immune system, lower stress, and even reduce pain? There are also many mental health benefits associated with tree-hugging. Tree-hugging can help people feel more connected to nature and can bring people joy and happiness. It can also reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric illnesses. Additionally, tree-hugging can help people with social pressure feel more comfortable around others. There is evidence that tree-hugging can promote mindfulness in those who engage in this practice.
India has its historical version of tree-hugging. The Chipko movement of the 1970s, which gained traction as a way of resisting the destruction of forests, was all about embracing trees. Chipko, meaning “to hug” in Hindi, reflected the movement’s primary tactic of clinging to trees to prevent loggers from cutting them down. Chipko movement got its inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of satyagraha. We can trace the provenance of the Chipko movement to Khejarli village in Rajasthan. A village named after khejri trees (Prosopis cineraria). The Bishnois who lived there worshipped and protected these trees because they believed the khejri trees were symbolic of purity, wealth and good fortune.
The Maharaja of. Marwar, in 1730, decided to build a new palace in Khejarli village by chopping down Khejri trees for a new palatial palace. Amrita Devi Bishnoi, a spunky protestor, wouldn’t let that happen. She and her three daughters faced the King’s soldiers by embracing the trees with their arms. The soldiers beheaded all four of them. The villagers were horrified by King’s action and decided to punish his soldiers, but they also met with death. The incident, later christened the Khejarli massacre, continues to inspire people and ecologists to safeguard our ecological bounty. So find a tree and cuddle it. You will feel better and be inspired to protect and conserve them.
Trees benefit humankind in myriad ways. They are an essential part of most ecosystems. They are necessary for water retention and help to filter airborne particles. Trees provide shelter for birds and other animals and can help mitigate the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They also regulate the soil’s pH level and can help prevent erosion and landslides. In addition, trees have many economic benefits, such as providing shade, reducing air pollution, increasing property values and providing habitats for wildlife. In addition, they can help reduce storm surges and flooding in coastal areas. In addition to their importance to ecosystems, trees offer many other human benefits. Trees are essential for cooling the air by reducing the amount of solar radiation that reaches the surface. They also provide a habitat for wildlife, and many birds use them for nesting sites. In addition, trees can reduce noise pollution by shading the ground below them and providing a windbreak in urban areas where trees can absorb some of the kinetic energy from winds that would otherwise get transmitted through buildings into people’s homes. Trees are also important because they can store large amounts of carbon in their roots, which helps mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide in their bodies.They also help to moderate the effects of climate change by slowing down the rate of global warming.
Trees also help to improve air quality by absorbing pollutants, and they also help to reduce noise pollution by absorbing sound waves. Trees provide, shade that can protect people from the Sun and reduce their risk of skin cancer. Trees also help to reduce erosion and prevent mudslides. Trees can even serve as food sources, such as fruit and nuts. In addition to all these benefits, trees are beautiful! Nothing is better than seeing a beautiful tree in your backyard or the park next to your house. For all these reasons, taking care of the trees in your neighbourhood is essential. By planting a tree near your home or workplace, you can also help improve local biodiversity, which can positively impact wildlife and the environment.
Finally, tree-hugging can effectively make people more aware of the environment and its impact. Tree-hugging also helps people reduce their carbon footprint by reducing energy use. Some concerns about tree-hugging are that it can be time-consuming, and not everyone has the time or resources to participate. Also, tree huggers may come across as naive or idealistic. However, these concerns are addressable through education and awareness.
Dr. K.Jayanth Murali is an IPS Officer belonging to 1991 batch. He is borne on Tamil Nadu cadre. He lives with his family in Chennai, India. He is currently serving the Government of Tamil Nadu as Director General of Police, Idol Wing CID.