Windy Life, Grounded Feet

As we make our way through November, the days grow shorter and colder. Nature tells us to slow down and go inward. However, pop culture and the hustle and bustle of 2025, along with the holiday season, send a completely different message to our hearts and minds. We are urged to do more, be more, buy more, expect more, and push more. The winds of autumn begin to pick up, creating an environment that resembles the inner workings of our minds during this time. It can feel impossible to find stable ground when the calendar fills our shortened daytime hours with endless tasks and events. This is why grounding ourselves becomes more than just self-care; it is essential for navigating the winds of life.

Yogi Tips to Stay Grounded When Life Gets Windy

1. Asana Grounding Poses

Grounding poses are essential for reconnecting with your body. Here are some effective asanas:

• Easy Seat

• Child's Pose

• Reclined Cobbler Pose

• Corpse Pose

• Legs Up the Wall with a sandbag on the bottoms of the feet and one on the belly

• Mountain Pose

  
  

As you move through your asana practice, focus on the bottoms of your feet. Press firmly into all four corners of your feet. Feel all ten toes. When on hands and knees, press firmly into your palms, fingertips, knees, and tops of your feet. Maintain a long, light spine while keeping a solid lower half. Draw your inner thighs together in standing poses. Move slowly and with intention.

2. Meditation

Meditation can help calm the mind. Close your eyes and visualize your thoughts and images spinning like snowflakes in a snow globe. As you inhale, imagine the thoughts floating and spinning around. With each exhale, visualize the snowflakes settling at the bottom of the globe. As you continue to breathe, create more space between the flakes, allowing for a solid foundation in the globe and a quiet mind.

3. Breathwork

Breathwork is best practiced with bare feet on the ground while sitting in a solid armchair. Focus on belly breathing, directing energy downward. This stimulates apana vayu, the downward-moving energy responsible for grounding, elimination, and stability.

• Place your hands on your lower abdomen.

• Inhale into your hands, feeling your belly rise and expand.

• Exhale completely, allowing your belly to gently contract.

• Keep your chest soft and focus your breath low in your body.

  
  

4. Mindfulness Grounding

The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding practice can bring you back to your body when you feel overwhelmed. This simple technique helps you reconnect with the present moment. When feeling dysregulated, take a moment to identify the following:

• 5 objects you see

• 4 objects you can touch

• 3 sounds you hear

• 2 scents you smell

• 1 taste you can identify

  
  

5. Foods for Grounding

Root vegetables grow underground, anchoring themselves in the soil. Their energy can help ground your body and mind. Consider incorporating these foods into your meals:

• Sweet Potatoes

• Carrots

• Beets

• Turnips

• Parsnips

• Squash

  
  

These vegetables are best enjoyed warm, cooked in fat, or made into a hearty stew. Additionally, warming herbal teas made with earthy spices such as cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, and clove can be very comforting.

6. Creative Production

Engaging in tactile hobbies can help you feel grounded. Here are some activities that allow you to "get your hands dirty":

• Pottery or clay work

• Knitting or crocheting

• Soap and candle making

• Baking, which involves kneading, mixing, or molding with your hands

• Gardening, whether indoors or outdoors

• Journaling while listening to low, heavy music to match your thoughts

  
  

Conclusion

As the winds of life pick up, it is crucial to find ways to ground yourself. The practices outlined above can help you navigate the chaos of the holiday season and the demands of daily life. Remember, grounding is not just a tool; it is a vital part of maintaining balance and peace within yourself.

Stay grounded, stay present, and embrace the beauty of the season.

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Written by

Brooke Halperin