By Palak Bhatt, Reiki Master | Mindfulness Coach | Founder of Midas Touch
In the heart of Nairobi where the hum of matatus mingles with birdsong and the scent of roasting maize lingers in the air many of us are searching for something deeper. A sense of balance. A breath of peace in the middle of life’s constant motion. We rush between work commitments, family obligations and social expectations. In the quiet moments we sometimes realise how much we long to feel whole.
Try some forest-bathing at Karura Forest
I met a woman named Wambui one Saturday morning at Karura Forest. She is a teacher, mother and part-time student juggling more than most of us can imagine. That morning she was simply walking alone her face lifted towards the filtered sunlight through the trees. When we fell into conversation she told me this was her sanctuary. Every week she made time to walk beneath the trees and listen to the forest speak. This is where I remember who I am she said with a soft smile. When I am here I do not need to be anything else.
Wambui’s ritual may seem simple but it is profound. Wellness is not always found in grand gestures or expensive retreats. Sometimes it is as quiet as a walk. As gentle as ten minutes of stillness on your balcony at dawn. As nourishing as preparing a meal with care and eating it slowly without glancing at your phone.
Let me share an easy moment of mindfulness. My husband and I practice of what we call “Intentional Tea”. Each evening after work he prepares a cup of chai with ginger and cardamom and we sit by the window watching the city lights flicker on one by one. No television, no music, no scrolling. Just the warmth of the mug in our hands and the rhythm of the breath. This simple daily pause has kept us grounded through demanding days.
“Intentional Tea” | Photo credit Annushka Ahuja
We often think wellness is something to be earned after we have achieved enough or fixed enough or become enough. But what if it is not a reward but a way of being with ourselves every day no matter where we are on the journey
Here in Nairobi wellness can take many forms. It can be the runner tracing familiar paths at Uhuru Park at dawn; the market vendor who hums softly as she arranges her produce; the young father who takes an extra five minutes to read a story to his child before bedtime. These small moments are the threads that weave wholeness into our lives.
If you are seeking ways to nurture your wellness begin small. Start with your breath. Notice it. Feel it move through you. Step outside and stand barefoot on the grass if you can. Let the earth remind you of your connection to something larger. Write a sentence each day about what made you smile. These gentle acts can help you find your centre in a world that often pulls us in many directions.
In the end wellness is not about perfection. It is about presence. About returning again and again to yourself with kindness. And perhaps that is the most beautiful practice of all.
Love & Light
Palak Bhatt
Mindfulness Coach & Reiki Master
0742433212