Come Back to Your Senses- Literally
On recovering from a hurricane.
For many of us in the southeast Hurricane Flo busted in here like whoah! Mandatory evacuations led to long lines at the gas pumps, grocery stores closing their doors, loads of businesses boarding up, schools and other public services (like mail delivery, trash pick up, etc.) were shut down. The threat, combined with the hype, sent fear levels to an all time high. Loss of wages, incurred evacuation expenses, and potential repair costs put people on edge.
According to Ayurveda, the sister science of Yoga, hurricanes bring about a whole lot of extra Vata energy. Vata is air energy that stirs stuff up. This can be great (a breath of fresh air) if things in your life have gotten stagnant; but man, for many, the more negative aspects of excess are showing up, such as anxiety, fear, restlessness, over-talking, and inability to focus.
In order to combat these affects, we turn to Earth energy, known as Kapha, to help bring about balance.
If you’re feeling the effects of too much Vata, try doing a few of the following:
1. Slow down. Stop rushing. Take your time. Move deliberately slow. There may be rain and limbs down, but that is not the sky falling.
2. Go stand outside. This is called grounding. It’s ok if you get a little wet, or your feet get a little dirty. Perhaps you repeat to yourself or aloud “I am safe, I am connected, I am well.” *Bonus points for being barefoot!
3. Touch something. Pet your dog. Snuggle up with your favorite blanket. Cook something. Offer your partner a massage (the feet are especially grounding!) Paint. Bake. Repot a plant. Let your hands get good and messy, maybe even a little dirty.
4. Look at pictures of yourself in beautiful places — scroll through your phone and rest your eyes on all those great memories… vacations, landscapes, gatherings with friends and family. If that doesn’t work googling baby animals or vacation destinations seems to do the trick.
5. Nourish yourself. Sit down and notice yourself chewing. The warmer and the heartier the meal the better. Avoid dry foods, crackers, chips, cereals, cookies… you know the things you’re most likely to grab when you’re stressed or in a rush? Try to choose something that came from the ground.
6. Light your favorite candle and take a big deep breath, because in this moment you are ok.
Wherever you are in this process, I invite you to believe things will find balance again. Whether you have been directly displaced, or you’re concerned about someone or something that you believe to be in the impact zone of the storm, I invite you to exhale, and I mean really exhale. Sigh it out. Stop holding your breath. Breathe deeply. The devastation that follows a storm is a very real thing, the warnings are serious and deserve to be heeded, but don’t let yourself drown in your own emotions when the physical threat isn’t even present.
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