Don’t Just Do Something – Stand There a Minute!

Rise and shine!

Every morning we step out of bed ready for the new day and the opportunities ahead, but how do we approach each and every moment from a grounded, solid, centered place so we can be more mindful in our daily lives?

It begins with a solid foundation. Coming from a grounded place where we can step forward with an open mind and heart. So here’s a one-minute exercise to help you get your day started well.

Step out of bed. Place both feet firmly on the floor and wriggle those toes, roll the ankles, and feel the 26 bones, 33 joints that more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments that enable us to stand, walk and get through the day.

Arms relaxed by your side, focus on the soles of your feet. Close your eyes, relax your breathing, focus on the space under your soles, and bring that energy up through your ankles, knees and thighs into your hips. Then up to your belly, chest, lungs, up to your shoulders, head and neck. Then out through your elbows, wrists and hands. Continue to inhale and exhale. Feel the stability of your feet beneath you start to draw your energy up from this stable place. Once you feel grounded, simply open your eyes, step forth, and go about your day.

In yoga, rooting firmly in standing poses like mountain pose (Tadasana), standing forward bend (Uttanasana) or tree pose (Vrksasana) helps build foundation from which poses and energy extend and move throughout the body.  Grounding from the feet, then feeling expansion through the body, helps to expand and open the lungs, clear the mind and bring space into areas of the body sometimes gets squashed, stuck, compressed, and contracted.

Try it.

Standing at the counter making coffee, navigating standing on the subway, at the kid’s tornado bedroom door wondering where to start.

Simply stop.

Feel the solid foundation of your feet beneath you, and know you are supported, and can step forward from a grounded place and be more present for life.

Being strong in our foundation helps us to walk taller in life.

Namaste,

Rebecca

PS The blog of this series is up over on my website, for your convenience and to revisit at your own pace. Enjoy!