I am safe.

I am calm.

I am secure.

I see you, momma. I see you, because I’m in the pandemic trenches with you. From home school to furlough to our physical and mental health, the endless unknowns might be ruling our minds.

Somewhat distracted, surrounded by chaos, battling the pervasive news, anxious about the unknown? I hear you and I see you and I want to take a moment to share a few tools in my tool belt. As a yoga teacher, I teach students how to ground their energy. If you are a literal thinker, imagine there are roots connecting you to the earth. Grounding is a term used in yoga as a representation of being rooted both physically and mentally in the earth.

In a time of such uncertainty, being rooted and grounded is essential to not only our mental and physical health, but also our sense of connection to both our nuclear family and every extension of the collective. It is an overall sense of well-being and balance.

Grounding evokes the following mantras:

I am safe.

I am calm.

I am secure.

I am rooted.

Much is entirely out of our control right now; however, we can control our reactions to the external world. Move inward, mommas.

Yoga for Peace & Grounding :: Connect. Root. Ground.

Use the following yoga poses as a guide to inspire a grounding practice through a relaxed state of consciousness. String the poses in a row for a sequence or simply choose one or two to start or end your day. If there’s a space in your day where you are losing your grip, letting emotions rule you, or you are just feeling “off,” take a few breaths in one of these poses to find peace and calm. I invite you to take at least 10 breaths or more in each pose, visualizing every touch point where your body meets the mat. Inhale—lengthen; exhale—melt into the Earth and feel the full weight of your body being supported. 

Child’s Pose with Variation

• Reduce stress
• Passively stretch back and hips
• Restore energy

Warrior One

• Improved circulation and respiration
• Energized body
• Strength & stretch

Half Pigeon

• Primal to store stress energy in hips
• Open and release tension

Reclining Hand to Big Toe Pose

• Headache and stress relief
• Stretches hamstrings and hips

Viparita Karani

• Slowing down
• Venous drainage
• Relieves low back tension
• Stress survival

Reclined Butterfly Pose

• Calms mind
• Increases hip mobility