Grounding Into Your Seasonal Space: Tips on How From Your Favorite Yoginis

The season of crisp air and falling leaves is the perfect time to reconnect with Mother Earth and tune into the way your body transitions into winter. As we begin to spend more time inside, creating a space that warms the body, mind and soul allows us to feel grounded and secure to the present moment. We can then let go of what has happened, what’s happening around us and the possibility of what might happen in the future — we become rooted in what is.

(If you're wondering, here's all about Getting Grounded: What It Means and How to Get It.)

Here we’ve put together the following tips from three of our favorite wellness influencers to guide you into grounding and creating your own space this wintry season.

Cate Murray

"Now is an opportunity to create a nest at home that nourishes and grounds your spirit and your five senses. This is the season to prepare yourself for more time indoors, to reflect on life, to become well rested and well fed, and to harness all your creative energy to launch when the spring sun shines again. Fall is the draftl time to focus on the sensory greatness of your home and to make small switches that bring you a greater sense of warmth on every level.

Here are some tips on how to create and craft a cozy, sacred space that will help keep you grounded and in balance during this vata season (adjusting accordingly depending on your constitution):

• Add the element of fire: get more candles with warming scents, if you have a fireplace, by all means utilize it this season. Make sure the lights in your apartment are warming, not too fluorescent or harsh.
• Clearing the air so your mind can be more clear, this means getting rid of that which you don’t need and doing a deep clean in your space. Toss the shirts you no longer need, get rid of your worn out boots, and dust and mop every corner of your place.
• Invest in luxurious textures (blankets, throw pillows) emphasizing the sense of touch with soft textures in your space will definitely amp up the cozy factor!
• Incorporate warming spices into your meals and desserts: think cinnamon, chai, ginger, cloves, etc.
• De-clutter and avoid over stimulation. Less is more. Clutter is a magnet for stagnant energy. So schedule a space clearing and energy cleanse in your home!
• Add plant life: having some greenery and tending to it helps to keep you connected to nature all year long. Plants are living things and Mother Nature has the highest vibe of all. So, bringing a few of her charms inside is something of a high-vibe no-brainer. Plus plants actually help to keep your indoor air-quality at its best.
• Stay away from loud, noisy environments. Meditate more and set the space to do so with candles lit. Create stillness and find your inner calm.
• Make sure you create a space that helps you rest and recalibrate. This season is all about making sure you get enough sleep. Try going to bed earlier."

For more from Cate, follow her at @cate_eilee_wellness.

Rachell Brinkerhoff

"This is the time to reconnect with our spirit and become more rooted in our body. Some of you may already be subconsciously doing so by eating warmer foods and purging your space of unnecessary items.

For more than five years now, I’ve been empowering others to lead a more balanced natural lifestyle using what nature gave us. There are many health benefits to using certified pure therapeutic-grade essential oils into your daily lifestyle routine.

Here are two simple steps I take to ease into fall:

• Step 1. Keep a bottle of doTERRA’s Balance 'Grounding Blend' of essential oils next to your bed. First thing in the morning, before getting up, apply two drops to the bottoms of each foot and gently massage in. Using your left hand, apply one drop over your heart center and gently place your right hand over your navel. Close your eyes and take five deep inhales while focusing on all the things you’re grateful for. The warm woody aroma of doTERRA Balance creates feelings of tranquility and well-being while bringing the body into harmony with the mind and balance to the emotions. Now arise and gently flow into a few simple stretches to get the circulatory system activated. I enjoy Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar). Pay attention to how you feel. You are ready to start your day.
• Step 2. Diffuse four drops of doTERRA’s On Guard 'Protective Blend' of essential oils in a diffuser throughout the day to kill airborne bacteria and viruses during cold and flu season. This warming spicy citrus blend will fill your home or office with smells of the holidays while supporting healthy immune function. For additional support, apply two drops to the bottoms of each foot or in a glass of water for daily protection. The cleansing properties of this powerful blend will help keep you healthy and grounded throughout the fall and winter seasons.

It’s amazing the transformation that happens when we support our bodies with simple gifts from nature. Who knew it could be so easy?"

For more from Rachell, visit her at @essentialsfor_living.

Gaby Lanz

"With the change of seasons usually comes a change in mood, practice, schedules, etc. which can leave me feeling anything but grounded. As a lover of summer and all things warm, the transition into fall and winter hits me hard. It’s very important that I maintain a consistent practice to get me through the shift.

Getting my body moving every single day is how I maintain my peace of mind. I keep a yoga mat unrolled and out in the open always. I find that taking little breaks throughout the day to stretch or flow helps me stay as grounded as possible. Just a few minutes can act like a mini reset button.

When I feel disconnected my go-to flow is a few rounds of Sun Salutations. These movements have been with me since the start of my yoga journey. My body knows exactly what to do and it feels like coming home. I might start with some seated postures and pranayama or just jump right in, depending on my mood. I normally prefer dynamic movement as a moving meditation, along with inversions, arm balances and anything requiring intense focus. Getting upside down has always been the quickest way for me to get out of my head and into my body.

This a simple sequence you can try anytime:

• Begin in an easy seated pose.
• Take a few breaths, not controlling them, just observing. Notice the pattern, depth, ease, etc.
• Now start to control the breath, inhaling to lengthen the spine, and exhaling into a twist. Practice both sides and repeat as many times as you like.
• Inhale and allow the heart to come forward, arching the back. Exhale and hollow out. Take a few rounds of these seated cat-cow’s.
• Inhale, lengthen the spine as both arms sweep up. Exhale, bringing the right hand down to the ground beside you as the left arm reaches over toward the right. Now side stretch to the left. Again, repeat as often as you want.
• Inhale as your arms sweep up and exhale as you fold forward.
• Roll up slowly, keeping your hands on the ground in front of you.
• Roll over your knees and come to a table top position.
• Tuck your toes and send the hips up and back into down dog.
• Walk your feet toward your hands, rise and begin your Sun Salutations. After a few rounds of those you should be nice and warm, feeling a connection to yourself and your surroundings.
• Keep the flow going by adding your own favorite poses.

Whether its walking around barefoot outside, playing in the sand by the ocean, enjoying my own backyard, keeping a window open while it rains, learning a new pose, practicing a new flow, reading a good book, rearranging a space….it can all be grounding. The trick is to find these things that make you feel whole and allowing them to become a priority.

(Learn more on how to Get Grounded Through 'Earthing.')

Remember, we are just like the seasons. We ebb and flow, change and shift. Allow this to happen without struggle and all will fall into place."

For more from Gaby, check her out at @gaby__om.