Mosses’ diminutive size belies their resilience, tenacity, and ecological significance. Mosses are essential for retaining soil and moisture (as much as 40 times their weight), preventing erosion, and providing homes, insulation, and sustenance for various organisms in their ecosystems, including at Nectar Yoga Retreat on Bowen Island.
At its core, Isvara Pranidhana calls upon us to release our grip on the illusion of control. The practice urges us to let go of the ceaseless pursuit of ego-driven ambitions and the false belief in our hyper-individuality-based abilities. Here at Nectar Yoga Retreat, sitting with humility as a teacher is a lifelong journey.
As we surrender ourselves to the observance of Santosha, we discover that contentment is not a destination to be reached, much like how Saucha is also not an arrival point, but a way of being—a way of embracing the fullness of life with hearts wide open. This practice may not make us immune to undesirable situations in our lives, but it can sweeten our perspectives, inner stories, and how we respond to the insatiable demands of our need for gratification. May contentment be part of what anchors us to ourselves, to each other, and to the divine presence that dwells within us and among us. In many ways, this is both a personal and community practice, something that can be cultivated at home, and also further amplified (or activated) at a nature retreat here at Nectar Yoga on Bowen Island, BC. There is something profoundly powerful when you are witnessed by others, and when you witness others cultivate Santosha with intention.
The art of porch sitting not only allows us to notice smaller details of the seasonal shifts, but to experience the benefits of being outdoors, enveloped in nature while the comforts of our home space are close by, generally offering additional feelings of ease + resting.
Whether you consider yourself the ‘outdoorsy’ type or tend to prefer time indoors, this practice can be easy to adopt for all in regards to the convenient access as well as the option to add some of your typical indoor comforts to your outdoor space.
Not all of us have access to a porch or deck attached to our homes, luckily we can adapt and incorporate the same details of porch sitting to our yards or local parks.
Typically this practice is one that is consciously or subconsciously implemented during the warmer months, however, exploring it as we shift into a cooler season (in the northern hemisphere) is something to be considered.
The shift from Pitta to Vata season (naturally) has many of us feeling less inclined to venture too far from our homesteads. However, we know that their are a range of benefits surrounding getting outside regularly, which is where the art of porch sitting can be a valuable practice to begin incorporating into your routine.
Spending time outdoors can…
lower blood pressure
reduce levels of cortisol (stress hormones)
strengthen immunity
relieve anxiety
improve concentration
improve short-term memory
energize the body + mind
improve your mood
strengthen sleep patterns
The other piece of this practice is the opportunity it allows for you to slow down and ground into the benefits surrounding stillness.
Western society in particular has put ‘rinse + grind’ on a pedestal and equated success with being busy. We compare idle resting time to laziness and rest as something to be earned; this in fact is not the case.
The ‘rest + digest’ portion of your brain, known as the parasympathetic nervous system, needs consistent activation in order for your body to stay healthy. When the PSNS is activated, it slows our heart and breathing rates, lowers blood pressure and promotes digestion. Our body enters a state of relaxation, which allows the opportunity for recovery (including physical + mental digestion). Overall the more time we spend in this state, the healthier we are.
Your day is full of both resting moments + activities and that could be brought outside. When we take to porch sitting, we combine varying levels of the benefits of being outdoors as well as making a new space for potentially more time spent with our PSNS active, a heavy dose of nourishment for all areas of the body.
Bundle up and spend time on your porch at consistent times, perhaps for 20 minutes each morning with a warm beverage, or in the evening before bed. If it feels uncomfortable at first, lean into it. Take everyday activities you normally do inside, and move them to the porch. Making a snack for yourself? Enjoy it on the porch. Catching up with someone on the phone? Take your conversation outside! Read your book on the porch or plan for your week with a calendar/notebook. Bring your meal prepping, such as chopping vegetables or kneading bread out to the porch with you.
Practicing the age-old tradition of porch sitting is a way to invite more overall health benefits into your day while embracing the simple moments + spending more time soaking in the natural energies and wisdom of nature around us.
Incorporate appealing sensory options to your porch space to personalize it and make it wholly welcoming to you.
This may include:
textiles (pillows, blankets, large sweaters, a rug, a door mat)
lighting (candles, string lights, sconces,)
sacred objects (crystals, books, tarot or affirmation cards)
comfortable seating (a new floor pillow, bench, rocking chair)
added flora (a potted plant, flowers, a seasonal wreathe)
Use your journal to note your time porch sitting and any thoughts that come up. This is a good way to keep track of how this practice is making you feel over time — and help you create the additional ritual (of journaling) that supports your overall health. Notice your favorite plants as well as surrounding flora; how do they shift with the seasons? What wisdom do they offer that can translate over to the human world and the habits we can mimic from nature during different seasons.
Gratitude to our community near and far, both for taking the time to explore our blog and for walking the path to your best self - we hope this resonated and aids you in finding balance within.
Let us know in the comments your thoughts around this tradition - do you practice it already?
All Photos - Nectar Yoga Copyright
There’s a reason why the largest cities in the world have parks, trees, + pockets of nature woven throughout their busy streets. Studies have found that spending 10 to 20 minutes a day outdoors can lead to an increase in overall well-being and happiness — and decreased amounts of stress; meaning these bits of nature added to urban life are lending a positive impact on a people’s day to day life.
Aside from spending time in city parks, the more in-depth practice of forest bathing has been proven to have physical + mental health benefits across the board.
The term ‘Forest Bathing’ references a physiological + psychological practice that emerged in Japan in the 1980s. This practice, also known as ‘Shinrin-yoku’, was cultivated to help people achieve two goals; to relieve feelings of burnout while also inspiring residents to connect with, and protect the country’s green spaces. Forest Bathing is an open-ended practice in the sense that there is no right or wrong way to experience it. It can be as simple as standing in nature and noticing the smells, sounds + sights the area provides you.
lower blood pressure
reduced levels of cortisol (stress hormones)
strengthens immunity
relieves anxiety
improves concentration
improves short-term memory
energizes the body + mind
improves mood
strengthens sleep patterns
While the word “forest” is in the name of this practice, heading to a rural wooded area is not required. You can take a trip to a nearby park, your favorite local trail, the beach, or any natural setting close by. The focus is to move through this practice with intention and mindfulness; meaning being present and fully in the moment. If you can, turn off or silence your phone or other devices that may distract or interrupt your time.
Once you’ve arrived at your chosen spot, take some deep breaths and ground yourself. Let yourself notice all that your senses are taking in — whether it’s the scent of towering trees or the sounds of chirping birds.
Allow yourself to spend a few moments observing your surroundings. You might choose to do this practice in stillness, movement or a combination of both. Sit and watch how the trees sway in the wind or simply walk around. If you decide to walk, go at a leisurely pace and without a specific destination in mind. It is important to let your mind and senses explore + indulge.
Safety tip: Always pay attention to your surroundings, stay on marked trails, + wear appropriate clothing/footwear. Consider things like sun protection or any possible allergies you may have; be respectful of nature around you, and leave no trace other than footprints. When possible, bring a friend or let someone know where you’re going and for how long.
A good rule of thumb is to practice forest bathing for at least 20 minutes every day. If you don’t have that much time to spare, that’s absolutely fine. You can start with a shorter amount of time. The goal of forest bathing is to relax + detach — this practice shouldn’t feel like a chore. The aim is for this to be something you look forward to and enjoy.
No matter how much time you spend outdoors, remember to look for moments that bring you to awe. You can also tie your forest bathing practice to your journaling practice (we have a whole blog post about different journal practices for you HERE).
After each session of forest bathing, use your journal to note your experience or any thoughts you had while immersed in nature. This is a good way to keep track of how the practice is making you feel over time — and help you create an additional ritual that supports your overall heath.
Gratitude to our community near and far, both for taking the time to explore our blog and for walking the path to your best self - we hope this resonated and aids you in finding balance within.
Thanks and credit goes to the resources for this blog provided by the writers and healthcare professionals at Kaiser Permanente
Let us know in the comments where you like to spend time forest bathing or how you feel about it.
All Photos - Nectar Yoga Copyright
