Nature Healing is a spiritual and experiential program by Indian Institute of Yoga and Management (IIYM), a sister concern of Oshodhara, that combines the five elements that comprise the universe -Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space, and encourages participants to heal themselves by embodying them.

The underlying thought is that our body is comprised of five elements too. Any imbalance in these five elements can cause diseases. In today's world, stress and anxiety can easily cause an imbalance of these elements, which manifests itself in many psychosomatic diseases. When we connect with nature through our heightened awareness and meditative practices, we restore that balance.

Human beings have had a very strong relationship with nature since time immemorial and going back to the nature can rebuild the important link for physical and spiritual healing.

Researchers have already established a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits of spending time in nature. The underlying credo is that when a person reconnects with nature, there are calming, rejuvenating and restorative benefits to be achieved.

It began as a practice called Forest Bathing in Japan during the 1980s and has become a foundation of preventive health care and healing all over the world. Forest Bathing (from the Japanese "Shinrin-Yoku") means opening all senses and immersing oneself in nature's embrace. When done repeatedly as a regular practice, Forest Bathing brings many health benefits.

In the past several decades there have been many scientific studies that have demonstrated the mechanisms behind the healing effects.

The scientifically-proven benefits of nature-reconnection include:

• Boosted immune system functioning
• Reduced blood pressure
• Reduced stress
• Improved mood
• Increased ability to focus, even in children with ADHD
• Accelerated recovery from surgery or illness
• Increased energy level
• Improved sleep

When it becomes a part of our regular practice, we observe following impressive results:

• Deeper and clearer intuition
• Increased flow of energy
• Increased capacity to communicate with the land and its species
• Increased flow of life force
• Deepening of friendships
• Overall increase in sense of happiness

The World Health Organisation defines health as "a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." If we are to keep good health, we must maintain a balance of five elements and get ourselves connected with our soul and Godliness.

There are six dimensions in our program, each focusing on an element. By being in nature with total awareness, a deep intimacy is achieved with our body and soul. In addition, sessions on meditation and music are conducted which help to live a life full of thrill and love in relaxed awareness.

Earth: We connect with earth element through 'touch healing' and 'embrace healing' by experiencing the love energy of earth and trees.

Water: Water, which constitutes 70% of our body, heals us when we feel its love energy through 'water healing', 'cloud healing' and 'rain healing'.

Fire: Establishing reconnection with fire element through 'fire healing', 'flame healing' and 'sun healing' cleans our aura and re-energizes us.

Air: The wind meandering through the trees heals us. The air suffused with oxygen carries the musical notes of birds and streams and transforms us through 'sound healing', 'breath healing' and 'air healing'.

Space: Space has two connotations, ether (tatvakash) that contains our astral bodies and aakash (divyakash) or Godliness. Through 'Moon healing', 'star healing', 'angelic healing', 'etheric healing' and 'divine healing', we get connected with our soul and Godliness.