Navigating the Vortex
Reprinted with permission from the Crestone Eagle. www.crestoneeagle.org
Let’s face it…a lot of people leave Crestone because they were unable to navigate the vortex. It’s also a challenging place to live at elevation, and such a distance from the places where we receive medical care and services. For my own balance, I have had to engage all my mental health and wellness practices in order to feel in balance both physically and emotionally here.
In this wellness column, I will share tools and techniques that have worked for myself and others. Many are evidence-based and some were passed down through yoga, tao, and shamanic lineages.
As we take this journey together, I welcome kindly stated and intended questions and requests. Email me at gina (at) ginambarrett (dot) com
My writing process is to go inward, mediate, and ask for what is needed at this time for the community. The first concept that calls loudly in my mind is grounding practices.
An easy practice that comes naturally here in Crestone is forest bathing. According to National Geographic, the term emerged in Japan in the 1980s as a physiological and psychological exercise… It offered an eco-antidote to tech-boom burnout…” (2019).
Autumn is the perfect time to get into a routine of spending a significant amount of time each day in nature. Although the evolution of society keeps us separate. those of us choosing to live here know its healing benefits. Either way, it’s so easy to get sucked into our devices and responsibilities to others.
Southern Colorado is a great place to have an indoor/outdoor lifestyle. Set up sheltered seating areas on your land. Think about the sun and wind factors. Think comfy, so you use them. Incorporate cushions and hammocks. Eating areas, end tables, plants, statues, crystals, earth and water features. Take your time and enjoy the creative process. Make it easy to bathe in nature without your phone or music. Take in the sounds of nature.
Most bodies respond with gratitude because we are nature. She reminds us of how we need to be taking care of ourselves during each season. More inward in winter to conserve energy. Active during spring and fall with care. We all know what can happen if we move too fast here. When this occurs, how do you ground?
Ways to Balance Energy and Ground. (Become calm and intentional with actions and speech):
drink sedative herbal tea (hot or iced) daily. Most like to do this each night as a sleep aid.
sit still (e.g., gold ball meditation in Connection Post Pandemic)
stand still (e.g., qigong mountain pose)
take a mindfulness walk by walking slowly and remaining present with each step
calming breathing practices (see Connection Post Pandemic)
eat grounding foods like root vegetables and food with higher fat content
diffuse calming/grounding essential oils (e.g., earthy scents, lavender, tansy)
oil your skin daily (e.g. sesame oil is heaviest for dry skin. Go lighter for your skin type)
drink more water than you crave and soon you will crave more. Your body knows what it needs.
decrease screen time. Some people find a screen time tracker helpful. Notice how you feel when you go over 2 hours/day. That is my personal limit. I also like to skip a day between laptop use.
make a point of going to the hot springs regularly. Weekly. I go weekly or twice a week. I notice when I need it. Sometimes baths and showers at home are enough. The hot springs will hydrate you, and some have minerals in them that are very sedative and also relieve pain. Locals discounts and memberships can make this more affordable.
May this list of suggestions include some techniques you may not already be incorporating into your daily life. Perhaps add one or two to your usual routine?
Enjoy the season more grounded and balanced. Notice the difference in your energy level, mood, and interactions with others.
*These are suggestions and not meant to be a prescription for your unique individual needs. Practice with awareness and agency. Seek a medical professional to discuss your options.
Many of Gina’s suggestions can be found in her FREE ebook, Connection Post Pandemic, 2nd edition of Lighter: Living Tantra. Gina M. Barrett is an author, trauma-informed yoga therapist, somatic eastern movement educator and equine therapist. In 2022, she won an international humanitarian award for her service providing trauma-informed yoga to marginalized communities. Gina has a private practice in Crestone on her land called Wild Baca Ranch. She has been engaged in the wellness profession for over 40 years as an international holistic mental health practitioner and as an environmental and social justice change agent. To learn more about Gina and to receive her FREE ebook, visit www.ginambarrett.com