Forest bathing in an enchanting Finnish fell

In the picturesque wilderness of Iso-Syöte, Finland's southernmost fell region, mindfulness comes unbidden and naturally

- Anita Rao Kashi

The air is chilly and a mild breeze that sweeps through occasionally carries tingling whiffs of the forest—pine cones, dried leaves, foliage crushed underfoot. Green is the predominant colour but there are plenty of shades ranging from pale yellow to mild orange, while gigantic pine trees rise up like sentinels all around, forming a beautiful pattern against the blue sky, unblemished by clouds. Many of the trunks and rocks are covered in moss and lichen, a natural palette of colours.

A narrow creaking boardwalk, scattered with fallen pine cones, skirts a pond, Hanhilampi, which means goose pond in Finnish, but neither goose nor any other creature is anywhere in sight. Instead, the surface is glassy and motionless, except for occasional ripples caused by a falling leaf or pine cone. Surrounded by the tall trees, the pond feels like an unexpected secret. It is so quiet, it feels unreal. Walking amidst the soaring tree trunks, the feet landing noiselessly on the floor carpeted with fallen leaves, pine needles, twigs, pine cones and seeds is satisfying. In this patch of picturesque wilderness in Iso-Syote, Finland’s southern-most fell, mindfulness comes unbidden and naturally.