Grounding yoga practices for times of change and uncertainty
26 resources to move, rest, reflect + reset
A lot of people feel really unsettled right now. I sense the collective despair, but I can’t say I feel hopeless. It helps that I’m still going strong with my hibernation from the news and politics. My husband sent a group text to a friend of ours who works in the federal government asking her if she was going to “take the resignation.” I didn’t have any clue what he was talking about so I had to send him a separate text to get an update on the latest shenanigans emanating from a white building 12 miles down the road. Learning about disturbing developments from a loved one beats reading headlines and doom-scrolling analysis pieces. I don’t miss the news and I love being uninformed; I have more space and time to spend on what I do love.
There are a lot of resources, free and paid, here on Yoga for Women’s Wellbeing to help you navigate challenging times. In case you’re new here or you missed some of the practices I’ve posted over the last year, here is a list of different yoga breaks you can take to find some peace and quiet within.
7-day Squat Challenge
Get in touch with your inner Goddess, plus move your body, build strength, and increase your confidence with the 7-day squat challenge!
mentioned she was stretching out the challenge way beyond the 7-days but that’s the beauty of online content. If you miss a day, it’s okay! I’ve got seven ways for you to experience the squat. Some build strength, some build flexibility, all help you cultivate and tune into your inner Goddess qualities, which are varied and greatly needed right now. If you’re Apple Watch vibrates to remind you to stand up, press play on one of these Squat Challenge videos and close your ring with two minutes of squatting 🙂2024 Full Moon Yoga Classes
I realized I’ve never shared a full list of all the Full Moon Yoga classes from last year. Even if you don’t practice these classes at the full moon, paid subscribers always have access to the replays. Make sure you check out the nidra practice at the end of the July 2024 Buck Moon—it was my favorite nidra all year.
Looking back on the moon qualities now, it seems obvious in hindsight how necessary it was to build endurance in August 2024 for the coming fall, even though in August it didn’t feel like I needed endurance. In October, it was necessary to stock up energy reserves for the rest of the year. In November, gathering resources was about all we could do to get us through that month. And in December, it felt like there was no choice other than to settle in, despite discomfort, agitation, wariness, or other turbulent emotions.
Once again, Mother Nature knows best, even when our own ego-mind can’t see the light.
Howl to the moon as you embody the qualities of the wolf
Send your wishes, desires, and prayers to the eagles
Celebrate the Spring Equinox with some movement rituals inspired by traditional indigenous dances
Connect with creativity
Bloom and rest with a flowery flow
Build a little heat, cool things down and celebrate the Summer Solstice
Embody the qualities of the buck (this class has my favorite nidra practice of the year)
August 2024 :: Sturgeon Super Blue Moon
Build up strength and endurance for the rest of the year through movement and rest
September 2024 :: Harvest Moon
Reap what you’ve sown
Prepare for the hunt and stock up your reserves for the coming winter
Gather your resources to settle into a long winter’s rest
Warm up, settle in, and celebrate the Winter Solstice
Be on the lookout for invitations to the 2025 Full Moon classes each month! These classes are live (with the exception of March 2025 because…baby) and you have the option to drop-in if you’re not a paid subscriber. February’s Full Moon yoga class is coming up on Wednesday, February 12.
Yoga Nidra round-up
I received Uma Dinsmore-Tuli’s Yoga Nidra bible Nidra Shakti for Christmas and can’t wait to expand my nidra learning with you throughout the year. When my son was born, I finished Atlas Shrugged while breastfeeding. This baby is going to absorb the wisdom of Nidra Shakti 😂.
This year, I’m sharing nidra practices for each month’s New Moon alongside reflection prompts as a monthly check-in ritual.
Other yoga practices
Here are a few other popular practices I shared throughout the year.
Yoni Mudra to connect with your intuition
Mother’s Day Yoga because every day is Mother’s Day and you deserve some time for yourself
Embody Your Creative Flow with movement and journaling to invoke the qualities of the goddess of creativity, Saraswati
I hope you find some comfort, peace, and inner strength in these practices and please come back to them over and over again. Let me know if there’s anything in particular you’d love to see more of.
I look forward to seeing you on your mat/cushion/in your yoga space again soon.
Namaste.
Yoga rituals for cyclical living
Don’t miss out on monthly opportunities to go deeper in your yoga practice. Create space in you life to rest, find more peace in your daily life, connect with other women who value wellbeing, and build a more connected and authentic yoga practice by becoming a paid subscriber today. Paid subscribers get access to monthly full moon yoga classes (live or recorded replays), monthly new moon nidra rituals with journal prompts, and seasonal workshops to honor and align with the natural transitions of Mother Nature.
With gratitude,
Ashley
Love the idea of doing the squats every time my watch pings me!
Thank you for this treasure trove of yoga practice! I also love being uninformed though I don't often say it aloud because I feel like it's unpopular to say so, lol. I occasionally fall prey to liberal guilt. But how lovely it can be to let the chaos be out there. I'll definitely come back to this post over and over:)