Need a little Grounding?

As a school teacher, (and the child of school teachers) the Fall has always been an exciting time for me. The cooler mornings and beautiful colors of the leaves suggest changes to come – new friends, new students, new opportunities.

And while looking forward can help us with planning; over-thinking can leave us feeling anxious, disconnected and spacey.

Tweaking our self-care routines, including our Yoga practice, can help us move through the busyness of the Fall toward the introspective winter season by including practices that help us feel more grounded. (First, let me assure you, I am not using this word in the same way some parents describe a particular consequence of disruptive behavior involving missing out on your favorite activities.) I use grounded to instead refer to a calm, centered, safe and mindful state.

If you find yourself longing for some peace, quiet and connection, you may consider including some practices that help create that sense of grounding.

Bring to mind calm, steady images from nature: imagine a tree with mighty roots. Or a deep still lake. Or a mountain: heavy, steady, strong.

Connect with the earth by physically getting in contact with it. Walk barefoot, get your hands dirty in the garden, sit on a rock, lie down in a meadow.

Connect with your physical body: walk, hike, stomp, jump, crawl. Seek out Big hugs, deep massage, self-massage and pressure point tapping.

During your Yoga practice, be aware of the parts of your body that are touching the ground. Consider including hip, leg and lower back stretches in your practice.

Eat your roots – beets, carrots, potatoes – all the lovely earthy veggies that are coming to us this time of year.

What else helps you feel grounded?