Nature-based Practices (2.24.26)
Spring is soooo close! I am loving seeing the tiny wildflowers start to appear on my morning hikes, and the trees begin to flower.
It’s reminding me again what a powerful teacher nature is. So often, the mindfulness practices I am most drawn to, or offer to others, are inspired by nature and the elements. It was one of the reasons that working with the chakras immediately spoke to - each energy center is correlated to an element.
I’d love to offer 4 different sets of practices today - one for earth, water, fire and air. I hope you enjoy and it supports you in feeling balanced in your leadership!
Earth
grounding, solid, safe
Mindfulness practice: walk slowly outside, observing the feel of the ground under your feet. If you can find a tree, pause and put your hands on the tree for 5 deep breaths.
Yoga poses that help you connect to earth: tree, mountain, downward facing dog, child’s pose
A way to engage this energy in your work: include a few deep breaths before or at the start of meetings/projects to feel more grounded.
A journal prompt: What parts of me and my life feel solid and sturdy? How can I lean into their support this week?
Water
fluid, emotional, creative
Mindfulness practice: take a mindful shower. Enjoy the feel of the water, the temperature, and imagine that the water is cleansing away any old stories, information, energy that you no longer need.
Yoga poses that help you connect to water: flowing in goddess pose, flowing between reverse warrior, extended side angle and warrior 2, figure 4 or pigeon
A way to engage this energy in your work: practice flexibility in when/where/how you create or do your work. (i.e. take your meeting outside, or change up who facilitates or add music to your planning block)
A journal prompt: When I remember that I am mostly made of water, what energy does that help me access? How can I apply the qualities of water to my life and leadership this week?
Fire
warm, energizing, transformational
Mindfulness practice: do a candle gazing meditation. For a few minutes, let your gaze rest on the flame, and let everything fade into the background.
Yoga poses that help you connect to fire: plank, twisted lunge, boat, chair twist
A way to engage this energy in your work: try something new that feels challenging and energizing (i.e. share your new idea with your colleagues, offer to take the lead on the project, etc)
A journal prompt: What lights me up and brings a sense of activation in my life and leadership? How can I tend to the fire of my own energy this week?
Air
spacious, reciprocal, expansive
Mindfulness practice: simply observe your breath - seated or walking. Observe the length, depth, quality, feeling and sound of each inhale and exhale.
Yoga poses that help you connect to air: bridge, cobra, supported fish, camel
A way to engage this energy in your work: add spaciousness to your schedule - even just 5 minute buffers between meetings so you can breathe and reset before diving in again.
A journal prompt: When I observe the natural cycle of inhaling and exhaling, what does that help me intuitively know about my energy, my effort and my daily routines?
Reflection Questions
1. Which elements are you most drawn to explore?
2. What is one practice you choose to engage in this week to feel more connected to nature?
3. When you remember that you ARE nature, what shifts in how you take care of yourself?
Lots of love,
Jess
If working with the elements speaks to you, my book It's All Connected explores each chakra and its element in depth, and you can pair it with 9 free chakra-balancing yoga classes to bring the practice into your body.
