By Suzanna Mannion
Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Feeling as if your mental state is as organized as the junk drawer in your kitchen; filled with unfinished to-dos, work and family demands and messages from mainstream media? At times this can even seem paralyzing as you are unsure of how to move forward.
I think it’s safe to say “we’ve all been there.” For many of us, life is a combination of: messy, complicated, surprising, disappointing, beautiful and stressful.
So, how do you recenter and “get a grip?”
Amidst life’s chaos, practices like meditation, mindfulness, yoga, time in nature and breathwork (to name a handful) offer pathways to getting grounded and fostering a deeper connection to yourself.
Here is a quick list of suggestions to nurture your sense of wellbeing and build resilience so you can feel better while managing your life with greater ease. Many of these suggestions promote better sleep, reduce pain and anxiety, cultivate resilience, decrease stress and improve flexibility.
Meditation
Find a quiet space where you can be still and quiet your mind. Focus your awareness on the present moment and your breath. There are other ways to meditate including meditations performed while walking, as one example.
Mindfulness
Stay present with your internal state of being, body and surroundings and in the process, grow awareness without judging or reacting to thoughts or feelings that may arise.
Yoga
With its emphasis on balance and connection to self, yoga helps with strengthening and stretching your muscles while quieting mental chatter and building resilience.
Breathwork
Control and regulate your breathing to promote relaxation, reduce stress, increase oxygen flow and enhance your natural feeling of wellbeing.
Partner with Nature — just in time for Earth Day.
Go outdoors with some of the practices listed above and experience a greater sense of connection to the beauty and abundance that surrounds us, cultivating a renewed appreciation for Earth’s wonders. As we celebrate Earth Day (April 22), let us remember that our well-being is intricately linked to the health of this planet. By embracing practices that promote grounding and mindfulness, we nourish ourselves and honor the interconnected web of life that sustains us all.
About the author
Suzanna, founder of Hearts Alive Yoga, Coaching and Retreats, is dedicated to uniting people and promoting well-being. Explore her yoga class in Pinole, events and coaching at heartsaliveyoga.com.