Maybe it's the caution we exercise while chopping up veggies for a quick omelette, or the attention that even a pot of boiling instant noodles demands — but there is something about the act of cooking that can get a racing mind to slow down. "It's a form of mindfulness meditation," shares Kenishaa Francis, a singer and cognitive behavioural therapist who founded the Bengaluru-based mental health awareness platform We Are All Mad Here (WAAMH) in February. And this Sunday, WAAMH is hosting the second edition of its online culinary therapy session, where comedian and actor Naveen Richard will cook along with participants, while opening up about mental health.

One doesn't need to be a chef to take part in the session, believes Richard, who's spending time with his family in Kerala at the moment. "I certainly am not. I've never done much cooking, but I've seen friends take to it to wind down," he says. He reiterates that since the activity demands our undivided attention, it helps open up the mind. "Although I haven't done it consciously, I feel it's a lot like going on a drive with my friends; you connect better than over, say, a cup of coffee. There's something about the movement," he elaborates.