“Maybe you are searching among the branches, for what only appears in the roots.”
~ Rumi
Busy brain got you in tizzy? Try this 20 minute earth based yoga practice.
This yoga class video includes balancing tree pose, and grounding warrior poses. Poses that will offer you peace from the traffic of thoughts crowding the parkway of your mind.
The Monkey Mind
In yoga we call this monkey mind. “Monkey mind” is a buddhist term which means unsettled, restless, whimsical, inconstant.
As a monkey swings from tree to tree, so does our mind swing from thought to thought. And we are not always in control of the thoughts that come to the forefront of the mind. Some of them may not feel so hot.
One of the things I like to share with my yoga student friends is this little trick. If you find yourself in a “monkey mind”, focus on your feet connecting to the earth. Bring your attention and awareness to the whole bottom of your feet and how they plant on the floor with each step.
The inside and outside edges of your feet, the ball of each foot, heel of each foot.
How does your foot connect to the earth you walk on?
Grounding
Focus there, as you walk, to help you get off the mind stuff. Ground down.
When we think of grounding, we think of getting out of our heads, calming the mind, being present and connected to what is happening right here, right now.
Focusing on your breath can also help calm the mind.
Muladhara – The First Chakra
For a more holistic and spiritual perspective, activating the first chakra, muladhara, will help you ground. You will feel a sense of security, calm, and safety.
The muladhara chakra lies in the tailbone. It is the color of a glowing red light.
Imagine that light.
It is called the seat of security.
It is the foundation of all of the chakras that line up and down the spine. (there are seven along the spine making the color of the rainbow.)
Foundation
Let’s talk about foundation. A foundation needs to be strong, secure, like the foundation of a building, so that everything stacks on top of that foundation does not fall down.
If the first chakra, our foundation, is out of whack, we will feel scattered in our thoughts because the structure is not secure.
We will feel anxious, and possible anxiety.
If you do not feel safe in your home for instance, your foundation, everything else you do will not function properly. You will be fighting against yourself in this battle to achieve your goals or feel good in your mind and body. Cleaning your house and making alters may help this problem. Also adding red to the rooms you hang out in will access the root chakra.
But you may need more than that to erase those scattered thoughts.
One way to balance the first chakra is to practice standing poses and balance poses that allow you to focus on the connection of the feet with the earth.
Being connected with nature can also help you feel grounded. Placing your bare feet on the grass, digging your hands in dirt or soil, hugging a tree or holding a rock are all ways that you feel connected with the earth.
Another way to ground is to eat root foods that are picked from the earth. Root foods like beets, potatoes, carrots, even making a warm stew. In fact I’m going to try this yummy looking recipe tonight. I will tell you how it goes!
Finding Balance
The yoga sequence in this video will help you focus and find balance in your mind.
Remember, we all feel off kilter every now and then. If you never have, you might be a robot, or one of the very lucky few? (I don’t know, check for an “on” switch.)
The key to happiness is finding the balance. This doesn’t mean you have to be in constant balance, it means making those adjustments to find your center.
Do this practice. Don’t even think about it. Just do it and let the results happen on their own.
Be present with yourself and observe your thoughts. Be kind to what you discover.
See if you can catch negative thoughts and flip them into positive thoughts! But don’t get mad at negative thoughts just because they decided to show up.
Whatever arises to the surface is just there to be cleansed.
Be well and let me know what you think!
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This is great! I’ve been looking for yoga online especially during these crazy times 🙂
We hope you enjoy our yoga classes Julia.There are beginner classes and intermediate ones. Hoping you can find what works for you.
Your videos are really timely. It helps a lot of people to keep fit and calm.
Thank you. We are doing our best to help any way we can.
I did my first yoga earlier and my body got out of balance I think because of my weight but I’ll keep trying until I’ll make it the right position HAHAHA.
I was the same way when I first started. Just take it easy and do some modifiers if you feel that a pose is too hard. You can also always rest – maybe child’s pose if you need to.
Great post on the Earth based yoga practices. Thanks for guiding us.
Thank you.
Thank you friend!
Thanks for sharing your free yoga classes. I have kind of fallen off of the yoga lately and this is the perfect time to bring it back
Yes! And guess what, if you are a mother or a runner, yoga is a perfect compliment to your lifestyle! This is where you get to tune into yourself and really see how you are inside. This video will strengthen and stretch your legs. Yoga is not only my lifestyle but my therapy! Try it with your kids too! Namaste Deborah!
Thanks and yes I always feel better when I have more yoga in my life
Ah the monkey mind. I constantly battle it. Love the idea of thinking about rooting down to the earth for grounding.
Lol! Don’t we all! I would love to hear what you think of the class!
Namaste Kelly!
This looks great! Is this safe for 2nd trimester of pregnancy? I could use some leg strength!
My wife has been doing your yoga every morning! thanks
I think we could all use a grounding yoga practice these days.
I’ve actually started doing yoga again every day since the UK went into lockdown! 🙂 Forgotten how much I love doing it
My yoga studio is closed right now, so this is great. I am going to do this today!!
I’m trying this out after lunch. Looks like a great workout to do right now! Thanks for sharing this.
You have such great online classes! Such a wonderful gift to people during these had times.
You have a very relaxing class. I appreciate your insight, encouragement, and knowledge. Thank you!
Lovely flow. SO easy to follow. I enjoyed this very much. Thanks!
Loving it! Yoga is my favourite way to unwind and get it done these days!
Love this!! I should do a little yoga while I’m in the house!
I love yoga, I cant wait to try this. Thank you for sharing different methods of earth yoga
Earth based yoga sounds beautiful. I would be really interested in this especially with the grounded.
I already shared with my wife as she loves Yoga.
I think I definitely could be using more Yog during this time to bring my stress level down. I really need to do that more. It’s been crazy at times and Yoga definitely helps me.
I need to start doing some yoga, to help me stretch my body. Since the lockdown I didn’t do much exercise and my muscles need some stretching.
Nice video! Definitely want to take it up and work it out
Cool video. I would like to try the poses, but I don’t know if I have the balance.
Great routine. I have been doing Yoga since the lockdow started and it has helped me have a clear mind nd beign focus on simple things. I love Yoga!
Never done Yoga but am sure that many people will be happy that you are helping them 🙂
haha, I definitely have somewhat of a “monkey mind”–thank you for this! I’ve been trying to do more yoga lately!
I’ve just started getting into yoga, so will definitely be saving this post.Thanks so much!
Thank you for this. I def. could use this during this time. I have never heard of earth based yoga.
I have been trying yoga for a couple of months and I feel great every time I do, although isn’t easy. My main point is to find balance in my mind as said in your article once I am dealing with anxiety. I think Yoga has helped me a lot with that issue.
Lana, you are lovely. Never forget that! Let your beautiful light shine! Please check out our new post that I created and think you will enjoy. https://beintheworldyoga.com/yoga/11-essential-yoga-poses/ These poses will be patient with you and make your body feel good!
Namaste Friend!
This post is very informative and very encouraging! Thank you for sharing. I saved your YouTube video and can not wait to try it out.
Omg! First I love your name!! I have some good comment coming up that I can’t wait for you to see!! Second. Thank you so much for following and subscribing! I’m so glad you feel inspired!!!Catch you on the flipside Beehive Mama! And did I ever tell you you’re the “cats pajama’s” Lol. Namaste Friend!
I started doing yoga daily last week and I love it!!! It is such a stress reliever. I will try to do your routine.
Great! Please do and let me know what you think! Thank you!
See if you can catch negative thoughts and flip them into positive thoughts! But don’t get mad at negative thoughts just because they decided to show up.” I really love this. And I enjoy this class more than I have ever any yoga before. Thank you.
Really? Wow. Thank you!!! I am so glad. We have more content coming up for you! let me know what you would like to learn!
Great routine, I hope I can find enough chakra to engage in this. Thanks for sharing
LOL! What a cute comment!!
Now, it’s the best time for me to exercise as I am home with nothing else to do. Thanks for sharing.
Awe, so sweet! Hang in there doll! We are all in this together. Sometimes we have to find ways to motivate ourselves. Keep a look out for inspiration!
I love the simplicity of this flow!
I think, um yes, this is my favorite comment. Simplicity is one of my favorite words and I’m always trying to simplify! Thank You!
I love incorporating yoga, but I had stopped for a few weeks. Now, with everything going on, I’ve added it back in! I can’t believe how much it does for your legs!!
Totally! If there are ever times you fall out read our new post. 11 Essential Yoga poses. They are the doorway to getting back into your body and practice!
This is perfect since I also want to tone my legs aside from having a nice abs. Thanks for sharing!
I here yeah! We also have a great abs work out!
At home yoga is helping so many people right now. I need to start doing some every morning to help relax me more.
I hear ya!!!!! Yoga is the answer for me! As well as walking, running, dancing, singing and really being present with the people I love!
I am not a fitness person but watching your yoga classes makes me want to try it out.
What a great yoga class! I think this is the best to try it out considering our situation now.
This is great! I have been doing a lot of yoga, so I can’t wait to try this workout!
We’ve been lockdown for 3 weeks now and I am happy to found out your yoga free classes it’s really helps me to ease my boredom and at the same time to calm myself from these stressful days.
I love yoga its so relaxing and so nice to stretch. such a great post.
Great addition to your daily practice examples. FB looks awesome, too.
Thanks for this video. I started during Yoga in my Quarantine time. Yoga is the best thing to do if you are not going to gym
In these hard times, yoga really helps a lot. Normally I am doing it as it reduces my anxieties.
Yes for sure! We need to always cling on to hope and set goals for ourselves.
This is very interesting and especially, knowing about the monekey mind. Finding balance is important as well when it comes to yoga. Thank you for sharing this informative post 🙂
That make me so happy! Hey you learn something knew about yourself everyday right!
Legs and brain, definitely need to be strengthened for us to be highly functional! I’d love to try to copy these moves.
We would love you too! They best way to understand how something feels is if you try it! Thank you for sharing! I would love to hear your results!