Root & Renew: Therapeutic Eco-Yoga for Stress Resilience

In this class your senses will be bathed in the healing sensations of the beautiful grounds of Ruscombe Mansion, supporting the nurturing of your nervous system through the ancient traditions of Hatha, Kripalu, and Ashtanga yoga including breathwork; slow/gentle mindful movement, and meditation in savasana.

Research continues to grow steadily on the immense impact of yoga and nature on our mind, bodies, and spirits. Collectively, yoga and eco-therapy have hundreds of studies showing decrease in pain, enhanced brain function, decreased anxiety and depression symptoms, improved concentration and focus, lowered blood pressure, and increases in dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, just to name a few benefits. Poly-Vagal Nerve theory is one way to understand this impact, as our Vagus Nerve, or wandering nerve, carries information from our environment into our nervous system and up to our brain, then back down to our bodies, telling it how to respond. As we attend to the Vagus Nerve through yoga and nature we can begin to build a healthy relationship with our nervous system, body, mind, and soul to help it at any given moment. For example, when we learn how to move and breath on the mat, we can calm ourselves down in times of threat in the world.

We'll become the observers and befriend our nervous systems for optimal existence in this tremendously stressful world. Each session will have a theme:

Session 1: Air and Awareness

Session 2: Earth and Interbeing

Session 3: Water and Wonder

Session 4: Fire and Freedom

Session 5: Ether and Enlightenment

Session 6: Animals and Animism

Session 7: Ancestors and Attunement

Session 8: Plants and Possibilities

Session 9: Root and Renew

Please wear comfortable clothing, and bring anything that makes you feel safe. Water is highly recommended. We have mats, bolsters, blankets, blocks, and straps. Weather permitting we will be outside, and accessing nature's elements with gratitude. Please come a few minutes before 6:30 to settle in. Be well!

Elizabeth

Elizabeth McCarthy is a yoga therapist, owner of Healing Self Wellness, mom, and wisdom seeker. Her ancestry includes, Wyandotte Native American, French, German, and Scotch-Irish. She has been a licensed clinical professional counselor for 20 years, and yoga teacher for 7 years. Her passion lies in sharing the healing power of yoga and nature for trauma and other mental health concerns through over 90 hours of specialized training in these areas.

Host or Publisher Ruscombe Community