Serenity among the trees and more musings

Hey there!

I hope you’ve been staying well!

When you think of self-care, what words, images, or feelings come to mind?

For me, it’s nature. I feel at peace when I spend time outside–whether I’m basking in the sun, feeling the cool raindrops on my skin, or listening to the sounds of nature. It’s just so soothing. Connecting with nature is an essential part of my daily self-care routine, helping me ground, recenter, and restore inner balance and calm.

A week ago, I decided to take a long walk through a forest. It was my first time walking through the woods during the winter season, without any specific goal or purpose in mind, other than to just be in nature. I decided to disconnect from technology during my walk to offer myself the gift of absolute presence.

This forest consisted of several paths that I could choose from. Since I had no destination, goal, or timeline in mind, I decided to let my instincts guide my decisions. At each crossroads, I decided to let go of second-guessing and overthinking each decision, and instead, just followed what felt right in the moment.

Some paths took me deeper into the forest, others led to dead ends, some circled back to places I’d already been, and some took me to unexpected terrain. It made me reflect on how life often feels the same way–sometimes we’re moving forward with momentum and purpose, while other times we find ourselves going in circles, unsure of our next step. There are moments when we feel lost or disoriented, and in those times, we may need to pause, reflect, and perhaps change course. And then there are times when a decision or a shift in focus leads us to something unexpected.

One such moment came when my journey through the forest eventually brought me to an open field with a boardwalk, where I stood in complete awe. There were at least fifty birds flying around me, completely unphased by my presence. I saw vibrant red cardinals, woodpeckers, mourning doves, and chickadees. Everything about this place felt so magical. I just stood there, taking it all in, feeling so grateful for this beautiful moment. And just like in our somatic practices, I took a moment to tune into where I felt the sensation of gratitude in my body.

Eventually, I left this peaceful place, and trusted my instincts to guide me out of the forest.

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Although this forest walk had no particular goal or purpose, I still found myself reflecting on the experience afterward. Here are two key takeaways that connect to both life and yoga.

Walking the Path of Self-Trust

Somatic practices encourage us to turn towards the body for guidance and feedback. This inner listening is a beautiful way to nurture love, care, respect, and trust for our body’s wisdom.

Now, there are situations where it may feel challenging or unsafe connecting with the body–like when navigating chronic pain or when experiencing emotional overwhelm. This disconnection, while completely natural and understandable, can distance us from our intuition. Other factors like overthinking, fear, self-doubt, constant busyness, and distractions can also impact our ability to connect with our inner wisdom.

If connecting with your body feels challenging or unsafe, please know that you’re not alone in this experience.

Fortunately, somatic yoga is not the only way to connect with your inner voice.

Everyday decisions offer a number of opportunities for us to connect with our intuition. For example, when choosing what to wear, you can ask yourself, “What feels right?” You might notice that your decision aligns with how you’re feeling, like choosing a color that resonates with your mood or energy. While on a hike, allow your instincts to lead the way. When choosing what to read, let your eyes wander over the titles and images, and then choose the one that draws you in.

These small choices strengthen your connection to your inner voice and can help build self-trust. This practice also helps you get out of your head–away from overthinking and analysis–and into your body, which is at the heart of somatic practices.

The Dance of Duality

Duality is the coexistence of two contrasting yet interconnected experiences or forces that shape our lives. Examples include growth and decay, surrender and resistance, love and fear, internal and external, yin and yang, beginnings and endings, reason and emotion, expansion and contraction, action and stillness, softness and strength, joy and sorrow, trust and doubt, and so on.

Duality is a natural part of life, reminding us that opposites exist in a delicate balance. This balance creates space for growth, learning, new perspectives, healing, and integration. While there can be a natural inclination to favor one experience over the other, both are equally essential and serve a purpose in our journey.

The winter season is considered a time of endings–a time to slow down, turn inward, reflect, and shed what no longer serves us. It’s an invitation to surrender and to let go of old patterns in order to make space for new beginnings. Although this season is connected with death or the ending of a cycle, we can still see evidence of life and growth when we slow down and observe. Even though it’s the middle of winter, I witnessed so much life and energy around me during my walk in the forest. This experience served as a beautiful reminder of how opposites can exist in harmony.

This concept is also reflected in our yoga practices. Savasana, or Corpse Pose, serves as a metaphor for letting go and surrendering, inviting us to release our attachments to the material world and the ego. As we rest in stillness, we shed what no longer serves us, while simultaneously creating space for growth, healing, and renewal. As we step off our mats, we shed our old selves–much like a snake shedding its skin–and move through the world with a renewed sense of lightness, peace, and a deeper connection to ourselves. This experience captures the dance of duality, where the end of one cycle paves the way for new beginnings.

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If it feels good, I encourage you to take a walk through a forest, park, or trail in your area–preferably away from an urban environment, if possible. There’s no goal or objective to achieve with this walk, other than giving yourself the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in nature for as long as it feels comfortable. Afterward, take a moment to notice how you feel.

Forest walks, also referred to as “forest bathing,” are known to lower cortisol levels.

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands (located on top of each kidney) in response to stress. It’s a natural and essential hormone that activates our “fight-or-flight” response when we experience threats to our safety. In certain situations, like test-taking, playing sports, or during interviews, cortisol can be beneficial for boosting alertness, increasing energy and motivation, and enhancing cognition.

That said, too much cortisol in the body due to chronic stress can lead to insomnia, a weakened immune system, troubles with memory and concentration, heart concerns, digestive problems, and more.

As I’ve already mentioned, forest bathing is one way to naturally lower cortisol, and another wonderful way is through mindfulness practices like somatic yoga.

So, with this in mind, I invite you to join me on the mat for a somatic yoga practice designed to help lower cortisol. To join, click on the image or the button below.

Here’s your free February yoga calendar: https://www.yogawithrachelmarie.com/calendar​

Feel free to join a class when you can!

Alrighty, that’s all I got for you this week.

Stay well and we shall chat soon!

Take care,

~ Rachel