The Connection Between Yoga and Nature: Part Two
We each have the capacity to repair and strengthen our personal connection to the natural world, which is critically important in our lives both directly and indirectly. This path honors nature's tapestry, upon which we are woven.
We also have the capacity to delve deeper into our own lives, uncovering the layers of who we are and bringing that truest self to the surface in our day to day activities and interactions. This is the yogic path for modern humans living in the real world.
When practiced in tandem, these two journeys can magnify one another. For working moms especially, these anchor points can counteract the hectic lifestyles we tend to default into, leading us into a calmer, more seasonally aligned way of living that supports our entire family.
In the first part of this article, we discussed these two journeys and their relatedness. We also discussed yoga in action in "Living the Yogic Life as a Busy, Working Mom," which highlights the oft missed living integration of our yoga practices that happens off the mat and in our every day.
In part two of this article, I offer suggestions for living into a nature-aligned life that honors our connection to, reliance upon, and duty to protect the natural world. These actions may be an expression of your mat-based yoga practice out in the real world as you explore and uncover your personal connection to universal intelligence, and thus, nature.
Align Your Yoga with Eco-conscious Living
Practice yoga outside.
Naturally, stepping into the outdoors as you dive deeper into your personal yoga practice is the perfect place to start aligning with nature. Choose a yoga mat to be your outside mat (or practice directly on the grass!) and make it a habit to practice outside any time the weather feels right. You could also commit one part of your yoga practice, for example, a 10-minute morning meditation, to the outdoors. Bringing your practice to nature quiets the internal dialogue that may be prompted by seeing tasks within your home and puts you into a more soothing environment.
Integrate a nature observation practice into your every day.
Observation is a crucial step in connecting more deeply to nature. Build a nature observation routine into your daily life. It may be stepping outside to watch the sunrise, taking a walk with your family before work or after dinner, or sitting outside after the kids go to bed. Some people even pick a sit spot, where they commit to sitting and observing for a few minutes each day. Any observation practice can expand your personal connection to nature and put you more in tune with her rhythms.
Live a seasonal lifestyle.
Nature ebbs and flows day to night and season to season. Energy shifts throughout the year, from the growth and productivity of spring and summer to the reflective and restful moments of fall and winter. Leaning into a seasonal lifestyle doesn't need to be a complex life systems overhaul. Start with the current season and explore ways you can tap into its energy. Maybe that means cooking a couple meals per week that use in-season produce or reflecting on how your activities do or don't reflect nature's rhythms and making small adjustments accordingly. Little shifts over a full year, and again over many years add up to a slowly crafted, seasonal life.
Manage your food consumption and waste.
Growing food and distributing it to consumers are resource-intensive activities with waste at every step in the process, including at the consumer level (that's us!). It can be difficult, especially with toddlers who may suddenly despise the food they loved yesterday, but strive to align your food purchasing habits with your family's actual needs. Before grocery shopping, examine what you have and determine whether you can integrate aging food items into your upcoming meal plan. Maintain a stock list for your pantry, fridge, and freezer so you always know which commonly used items are low or out of stock. When food turns, seek opportunities to compost it rather than throwing it directly into the trash.
Avoid overconsumption of goods.
We live within the context of a capitalistic society, where buying is completely normalized and heavily encouraged. If you are seeking to live a more nature-aligned life, using discernment in whether you buy a new item is a simple way to reduce your personal impact on resource use. Before you buy, rationalize why you need the item, focusing on truly reasonable reasons, not just that it is cute, right in front of you at the shops, or an easy fix. Explore clothing mending as a creative hobby, try to repair a broken item before replacing it, and borrow tools or single-purpose items from a friend who already owns them.
Shop at the thrift store or from brands and shops whose values align with yours.
We can daydream all day long about sewing our own wardrobes, cooking and baking from our lavishly abundant home gardens, and collecting rain and sunshine to stay off the grid, but sometimes, we simply need to buy things. When the decision to buy is clear, try thrifting first, either at local thrift stores or in online marketplaces like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Some people will create a thrift list and only buy new when an item has been on the list for a certain amount of time or thrifting effort with no luck. If you need to buy new, seek companies and brands that align with your personal values, such as slow fashion clothing companies that use only natural fibers or cleaning supply refill shops that reduce plastic use in the household cleaning industry. Focus on finding a balance between shopping in alignment with your values and ensuring your home is stocked with the items you need. Sometimes grabbing something from a box store really is the solution, and that's okay.
Join or support a community initiative focused on nature and eco-conscious living in your area.
There are many, many ways to support nature locally, and doing so in community not only amplifies the effects of your effort, but also solidifies the path you have chosen for yourself. Some places to start include searching for local guided wildflower, birding, or other nature hikes in your area; discovering whether there is a native plant program available for homeowners to integrate pollinator plants into their landscaping; tapping into formal programs such as Master Naturalist to expand your nature knowledge and volunteer opportunities; or visiting local regenerative and educational farms for their you-pick programs and farm visit days. A simple online search for opportunities in your area is likely to return many chances to connect to fellow nature observers and lovers, and to find options that are great for kids as well.
Talk to your kids about the choices you make.
As moms we know that kids see and hear everything we do. Build an appreciation for nature into their lives by discussing some of the choices you're making that create a more nature-aligned and seasonal lifestyle. Plant that path as normal for them, so they may grow into conscious adults.
More Yoga and Eco-conscious Living for Working Moms
The online yoga studio for busy, working moms seeking a slower way of life offers monthly pre-recorded yoga and meditation you can use to sink into a slower pace, plus a slow down framework where you can restructure your most overwhelming challenges into peaceful, rhythmic routines that support you and your family.
Two-minute Reset Meditations for Routine Calm Days includes ten completely free two-minute meditations for you to capture a moment of calm right now, without spending an hour at the yoga studio or taking paid leave.
The Mama Naturalist on my website and Substack is a space where I share both conceptual and practical guidance on slowing down, connecting to nature, and living seasonally.
Mindful Moms Digest offers exclusive yoga and meditation classes, nature stories from a wildlife biologist (me!), and free, supportive resources including links back to every blog post for busy, working moms journeying toward a slower, more seasonal way of life.
Cultivate Calm Mornings is a structured series of three yoga workshops that supports you in transforming your morning routine from chaotic to calm.
