HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

A good start is to make efforts to connect with the earth. This helps to bring us down to our root chakra, the furthest one from our head and the closest one to the earth. Walks in nature help us tune out from the distractions we see when driving in our car, scrolling on our cell phone, or working on our laptops These are three things that typically contribute to sensory overload and anxiety. Walks in nature bring us down to the simple but vital aspects of the earth as we feel the ground below our feet, breathe in fresh air and admire the beauty of the trees around us. This can help create an energetic shift that fosters a sense of peace and groundedness

Walking barefoot outdoors, or even in our home, helps us feel more connected to the ground and, again, fosters a sense of groundedness. Practicing the yoga standing poses while barefoot is also a terrific way of getting grounded and you don’t need to be a seasoned Yogi to do them. Mountain Pose and Tree Pose are two very simple ones that can be easily practiced in the comforts of your own home and both poses can help create an energetic shift that leads to a calm and grounding state

As with any yoga pose, the key factor is to capture the energy of the pose. In the case of Mountain Pose, one aspires to be strong and stable, just like a mountain. Imagine how strong and stable you would feel if you were capturing the energy of a mountain! When practicing Tree Pose, one aspires to be strong and rooted to the earth, just like a tree. If you’ve taken walks in nature, you would have noticed just how strong, pliable and resilient trees are. Most manage to overcome adversities and still manage to grow and thrive because they are rooted to the earth. How nice would it be if we could all be a little more like a tree!

These two poses are my favourite starting points to help me feel grounded in my practice and experience That said, there is another alternative that can help, especially if you are feeling extremely anxious and having difficulty with your balance This pose is known as Savasana, a relaxational pose practiced on the ground that is done at the start and end of every yoga practice. When practiced with slow, regular and mindful breathing, Savasana can be a very effective way to help you feel more grounded and in the moment.

Yogi’s Tip: If you are feeling especially anxious, practice Savasana with your feet gently pressed into the baseboard of a wall. This will give your feet the experience of being connected to something solid and promote a greater sense of groundedness as it takes the busy energy out of your head and down into your feet. Some people find simply sitting in a chair with their feet gently pressing into the ground can also promote a sense of calmness

Practicing slow, mindful breathing can also help with grounding. It’s like taking a ‘time out’ from the busy-ness of the day or stress of the moment and bring us back into our bodies where we can reconnect with our inner selves, reflect and re-charge, making us that much more resilient and better responsive to any situation that is causing stress