Get Barefoot To Feel More Calm

If you’re feeling the anxiety creeping back up as the Rona wildfire spreads across the southern part of the U.S., here's a self-care practice that should help.

We had our dress rehearsal in April for this scenario.  Cue the jazz hands, it’s SHOW TIME!

Remember…

We know what to do to slow the spread: WASH (your hands), WATCH (your distance), WEAR (your mask). 

We know outside (with social distancing) is safer than indoors.

It’s the perfect time to start a GROUNDING PRACTICE. And it’s super simple.

How To Start A Grounding Practice

Grounding 101: Lie on the ground outside for 5-10 minutes. You don’t have to do anything but let Mother Earth do her thing.

Spice it up: you can visualize growing roots from your body down into the earth as you breathe. Inhale all the healing energy of nature, then exhale anything you want to release from your mind or body through those roots down deep into the earth.

Benefits Of A Grounding Practice

A Grounding Practice can help you:

• calm and reduce inflammation in your body
• boost your mood
• feel more centered

Other options when you can’t get safely on the ground and start to spiral with anxiety or fear:

• sit under a tree and breathe (or even find a tree to touch and let it all go with a few deep breaths).
  
• stand or walk barefoot on the grass, dirt or sand while taking some deep breaths.
• find a stone to take inside and hold it in your hand while you take a deep breaths when you feel anxiety building (this is called a "touchstone" from Karen Brody’s Daring To Rest Yoga Nidra Method).
• indoors you can visualize growing roots through your feet while taking some deep breaths, then let it all go down to Mother Earth. She can handle it.. 

Self Care Resources

Here are links to all the blogs for resources I’ve pulled together so far during the pandemic:

Self-care basics during COVID-19

Rest Resources

Immune Boosting Breath Work

Pet Care: the latest CDC update is that humans can pass coronavirus to their pets (no evidence of them giving it to humans). Keep your pets away from anyone outside your household and anyone who has tested positive or is in quarantine.

If you don’t know Andy Slavitt, I recommend you follow him on twitter (@ASlavitt) or on his podcast (In The Bubble) for real time COVID-19 updates as hot spots develop around the country.

Stay Safe & Strong!
Mollie

P.S. Want better sleep?  Download this 5 minute rest meditation to take a quick time out, prep for a nap or to relax your body before sleep