“Look deeply into nature and you will understand everything better”
Albert Einstein
As you might know, I grew up in Mexico City, where the weather stays quite similar throughout the year, so I never felt the intricate meaning of the changing seasons. Since my first visit to Australia this delicate contrast was definitely one aspect of Melbourne that stole my heart.
I love the warm colours painting the streets, the elegance of Autumn's fashion, the cosy vibes and the tasty foods. But the most fascinating aspect of it was to understand -not at a rational level but much more encompassing - the true purpose of the seasons.
I started to embrace these cycles, so intelligently crafted by nature so that life can grow, evolve and live in harmony within me and with everything around me.
Autumn became my absolute favourite season, a beautiful transition from the heat of Summer into the quietude of Winter. Autumn, offers us the opportunity to cool down and let go of what is no longer needed (physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually).
So, this month of March, inspired by one of my go-to yoga postures (Vrksasana - The Tree) I decided to share the most profound lessons I have gathered from trees and how we can practically use them in our busy lifestyles.
1. Grounded Presence: Connecting with the Earth
"A walk in nature walks the soul back home.”
Mary Davis
At the core of our being we have this deep yearning to connect with the earth, nature has this unique capacity to help us feel safe and nurtured. Through practices like the Earth Sequence and specific Activations for grounding our energy, we can attune ourselves to this primal connection and draw strength from the earth's nurturing presence.
Just as trees draw nourishment from the soil, we too can replenish our energy by immersing ourselves in nature, whether it's by taking a walk in the closest park, standing barefoot on the grass, meditating outdoors, or simply resting under the shade of a tree for a few moments. By actively cultivating this sense of rootedness, we create a profound sense of presence and interconnectedness within ourselves and with all living beings.
2. Graceful Adaptation: Flowing with Change
“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.”
Kahlil Gibran
Change is the only constant in life, and trees exemplify the art of graceful adaptation. As the seasons change, trees shed old leaves, grow new ones, and adjust their energy accordingly.
In our yoga practice and daily lives, this picturesque blend of reds and golds is a reminder that change can be breathtakingly beautiful and inspire us to embrace change with an open heart and a flexible mind.
The Tree of Transformation sequence invites us to reclaim inner harmony by embracing this fluidity, moving seamlessly from one posture to the next with mindful awareness. Off the mat, we can cultivate adaptability by embracing new experiences, doing the same things in different ways and being open (even proactive) to meeting new people.
Like the trees, we too can learn to sway with life's winds, letting go of what no longer serves us and embracing the magic of new beginnings!
3. Rooted Resilience: Standing Firm in Adversity
“The strongest trees don’t grow in the best soil, they grow in the strongest winds”
When I have walked amongst areas that have been through bushfires (near Melbourne we have many), the first thing that always stands out is how life thrives after what our minds perceive as a natural disaster.
I feel in our modern world, resilience is a quality that we need to proactively cultivate more. Expecting life to be easy and pretty is what makes it otherwise. Imagine if we embrace life with all its colours and shades! We wouldn't be so afraid of taking risks and making mistakes, we wouldn't be so worried or anxious about little details.
Imagine instead if every challenge we encounter, we’ll embrace it as an opportunity to tap into our inner reserves of resilience and wisdom. Our yoga practice is a beautiful playground to cultivate stillness during challenging yoga postures, it reminds us of the importance of rooting down and trusting the process.
Off the mat, we can cultivate our inner resilience by consciously choosing challenges that help us expand and be uncomfortable so when unexpected curve balls come our way, we can navigate through them with much more ease, grace and strength.
4. Patient Growth: Cultivating Inner Wisdom
"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our current world deeply values speed and instant gratification. Trees remind us of the beauty of slow, steady growth. Just as a tree takes years to reach maturity, our personal growth journey unfolds gradually, requiring patience, perseverance, and trust in the process.
Dru Yoga is perfect to help us cultivate this patient mindset, honoring our own unique pace and allowing ourselves to evolve at our own rhythm.
In our practice this month, we will be adding beautiful meditations to help us ground and embrace the perfect unfolding of our lives.
Embrace the Wisdom of Trees and Cultivate a Life of Harmony
By taking the profound lessons that trees have to offer us, remember to carry their wisdom with you on the mat and into your daily life.
By embodying the rooted resilience of trees, embracing change with grace, grounding yourself in the present moment, and cultivating patience in your evolutionary journey, you will notice yourself navigating life's ups and downs with greater ease and equanimity.
So take off those shoes and go outside! Let yourself be showered by the abundant energy of trees, hug them dearly and allow yourself to be inspired by these natural teachers to cultivate a life of balance, harmony, and connection.
A personal invitation
If you've found inspiration in these insights from trees and long for a deeper immersion into the practices of Dru Yoga, Mindful Introspection and Conscious Self-Care, consider joining us for our upcoming Autumn Retreat. This retreat is all about Living Lighter, shedding emotional baggage, freeing up your soul with the power of forgiveness and embracing a more playful way of living.
Or, if you're looking to add more mindfulness and serenity into your everyday life, I invite you to explore my Dru Yoga classes, crafted with love and designed to ease discomfort from your body, clear your mind and expand your soul.
I look forward to seeing you on the mat soon.
Namaste