I’ve been exploring the outdoors for years, even when I’m indoors I spend my time exploring, reading and researching the concepts and practices that help me to understand why being outdoors in nature is so beneficial. One conclusion I have come back to over and over again is that the explanations are too simple. If it was all more complicated, I believe that those in academia and the masters of science would take a greater interest, which would then result in greater engagement from the general population. When seeking out evidence that might convince people of the benefits of nature the best reasoning I have heard to date is this: ‘…no matter how advanced technologically we become, or how far into space we travel, we will never NOT be from planet Earth, we are earthly beings designed to survive and thrive on this planet’.1
I shared a post recently on my social media of my Daingean, the Morning Practice I’ve made a habit out of this last year. I started playing with this practice on nature-connection facilitators gatherings hosted by the founders of Indigenous Ireland.2 I found this group were coming to the same conclusions I felt myself reaching. Although exploring the data and contributing to the research was exciting for our science minds, the conclusions and outcomes were always too simple to seem ground-breaking. ‘Take time to explore the outdoors, it’s good for you!’
So they had flipped the process on it’s head. Rather than reading and researching about the outdoors while indoors they suggested spending time outdoors as a starting point. Once outdoors they introduced parameters to take note of and encouraged us to journal or log observations when we came back indoors. The little scientist in me absolutely loved this and I got straight into it… for about 3-4 weeks. After 3 or 4 weeks I realised something, my note taking was becoming very repetitive. ‘Felt tired and sluggish on my way out. Spent time breathing, moved my body (this often varied), engaged my senses, mimicked something in nature, (usually my favourite tree), and quietly said hello to my ancestors, a little prayer, ‘thank you for always being there, please don’t give up on us, we’re starting to remember who we are’. Came back in refreshed, grounded and better able to focus, ready for the day.
The experience for me each morning was unique and peaceful and re-calibrating. Yet to look at my notes it was repetitive and frankly, a little bit dull. I never minded chemistry note taking and data collection being monotonous but it grated on me that I was turning my personal experience into a singular data set. So, after 3-4 weeks I stopped taking notes and I’ve been going outdoors every morning since, to breath, move and mimic, to come to my senses and say hello to my ancestors. Through one of the most challenging years of my life, I have never felt more human and more alive.
Going Deeper
With full disclosure I believe the ease with which I was able to engage with a regular outdoor practice was because of the years of indoor breath and body work I have done. When given the guidance to ‘stand and ground down through the souls of your feet’ my body immediately knew how to do this. And my mind was also satisfied because I had an intellectual understanding of the energy systems of the body and how a standing position when done with intention can align your energies and channel energetic release downwards. These teachings and understandings helped me to accept that what I was doing was beneficial. And after I was rewarded with an enhanced sense of wellbeing.
So recently, when I shared my morning practice on social media, as soon as the post went up I realised there was a lot more going on in my practice that can be depicted in a simple post. The need to explain the outdoor practice became apparent and I launched an indoor nature-connection yoga series. The first session last week, for example, guided participants to ‘activate’ their lower bodies. Switching mindset from the idea of stretching or strengthening muscles, to simply switching the body on, turning the lights on internally. This kind of practice is used in yoga-therapy to help clients release anxiety and also depression.3 I trained in these Subtle Body techniques for 2 years with Veronica Larrson.4 The benefits of the practices are multiplied when we take the practice outdoors and connect our feet to the earth. I do accept, however that there is a need to explain and share the practices indoors first…especially this time of year in Ireland.
In the summer months I look forward to sharing the Earth Light meditation which further enhances our connection to the specific energy of the land. The energetic blueprint of the land here in the northwest of Ireland seemed particularly potent to our ancestors who marked the many energetic nodes with sacred sites that now decorate the landscape.
The next 2 weeks I’ll continue the indoor practice of nature connection introducing the elements of water and fire and how these elements are both felt in our bodies and also reflected in the world around us. The element of air will be guided by fellow teacher Aisling Keane with 2 weeks dedicated to breathwork.
The teachers who have most recently inspired me will all be offering practices at the Daingean gathering in Donegal at Bealtaine May 1st – 7th.2 These workshops are open to booking Monday through to Thursday, with talks from local experts and indigenous international visitors over the weekend. If your near Gartan in Donegal or happy to take the spin, you can attend for a workshop or join for the whole week, I can highly recommend. Daingean is a word used to describe, that which gives you strength. The concept of Daingean will be explored further on the Friday morning inviting contributions and conversation from all who attend.
In the meantime, as the weather starts to improve I encourage you to take yourself outdoors for 5 mins each day. And I further challenge you to do it barefoot;-) Simply use imagination to visualise energetic stresses (electrical charges) in the body being released out of your body, through the souls of your feet, down into the earth below. Maybe just notice how you feel before and after, you don’t have to start logging your efforts of course but I’d love to hear if some version of this practice suits you, or helps you find your Daingean!
In Love and Earth Light, Blaithin.
1. LISA SANFILIPPO | Psychotherapist | Yogi | Sleep Recovery Expert
2. Indigenous Ireland – Indigenous
3. Ashley Turner, LMFT – Yoga Psychology Teacher Trainings | Ashley Turner, LMFT | Yoga Teacher Trainings
4. Veronica Larsson – Subtle Body Anatomy and Energy Medicine
