Exploring the benefits of nature’s raw therapy, guided by a seasoned outdoorsman
I find myself lying in a chilly mud puddle in Tampines Quarry one Thursday morning. My guide, Alan Ng, floats nearby in the earthy water, seemingly at peace. “Welcome to the mud experience,” he says, his voice filled with serenity.
This foray into nature’s dirtier side was inspired by my growing weariness of screen-heavy living. Nature was something I enjoyed as a kid, but somewhere along the way, my love for it faded. When I stumbled across a photo of Alan fully submerged in mud on a local hiking group, his caption intrigued me: “Mud is nature’s Band-Aid.”
Alan, a 43-year-old with a day job at People’s Association, has rekindled his love for nature with regular hikes around Singapore. He even shed 30kg in the process. “I feel recharged,” he says, “and can return to work refreshed.” His routine inspired me to try something new.
Arriving at Tampines Quarry with my colleague, we brace ourselves for a plunge into muddy water. Guided by Alan, we navigate our way to a puddle big enough for all three of us. As I submerge, I feel the dirt and leaves brush my skin, and my stress melts away, replaced by a strange sense of calm.
Amid deadlines and everyday worries, Alan’s “nature Band-Aid” provides a refreshing reset. It may not be a typical spa treatment, but reconnecting with nature offers surprising mental clarity.
