Be Like A Tree: Ground To Grow, Root Down to Rise Up

by Jackie Jackson Sept 8, 2026

"Advice From A Tree." Stand tall. Drink plenty of water. Be content with your natural beauty. Enjoy the view. Remember your Roots." -Ilan Shamir

Grounding doesn't have to be complicated or mystical.

It can simply mean intentionally reconnecting with your body and your immediate surroundings.

Notice the pressure of your feet against the floor. Feel the support of the chair beneath you. Listen for birds or wind moving through the trees. Notice the temperature of the air against your skin. These sensory cues can help orient us to the present moment and support the nervous system in settling. This is one reason I love practicing yoga outside.

Be Like a Tree.

Tree Pose, or Vrksasana, has become one of my favorite ways to embody grounding.

A tree doesn't remain rigid when the wind blows. Its roots provide stability while its branches move and adapt. Our bodies aren't so different.

Try standing with both feet on the ground for a moment. Feel the four corners of each foot. Imagine roots extending downward into the earth.

Then, if it feels comfortable, come into Tree Pose. Let your gaze rest softly on one point and allow your breath to slow.

And here's the important part: Let yourself sway. Balance isn't the absence of movement. It's our ability to continually find our way back toward center.

A Simple Grounding Practice:

The next time you're feeling scattered or overwhelmed, try this:

Stand or sit somewhere you feel comfortable, outside if possible.

Feel the earth or floor supporting you.

Take a slow breath in through your nose and allow the exhale to lengthen naturally.

3-2-1 Technique for Present Moment Awareness.

• Three things you can see,

• Two things you can hear,

• One physical sensation you can feel.

Then ask yourself: What do I need in this moment to feel a little more supported?

You don't have to solve everything. Sometimes healing begins with something much smaller—feeling your feet beneath you, taking one conscious breath, and remembering: You have ground beneath you.

A Root Chakra Practice to Try at Home

Here's a little preview of what we'll explore on Saturday at our Root Chakra Embodiment workshop.

Mantra: LAM

LAM is the traditional bija, or seed sound, associated with the Root Chakra. Sit comfortably, feel your connection to the ground, take a slow breath in, and chant LAM on your exhale. Notice the vibration through your body.

Mudra: Prithvi Mudra

Gently touch the tip of your ring finger to the tip of your thumb on each hand, allowing the other fingers to extend comfortably. Prithvi means earth, making this a beautiful mudra to pair with grounding and Root Chakra practices. Try sitting with the mudra for a few minutes while breathing slowly and noticing the support of the earth beneath you.

As the vibration of LAM settles through your body and perhaps you sense the benefits of prithvi mudra reducing stress and blood pressure, strengthening digestion and assimilation and supporting your posture and skeletal system.

Invitation to notice what happens when you simply pause, feel your feet/seat beneath you, and arrive right where you are. This is where ancient yoga practices and modern mindfulness beautifully meet.

“Root yourself in the present moment, for that is where your true power lies.”

I was reminded of this the other day. So much of yoga and mindfulness comes back to this simple practice: returning to the body, the breath, and the ground beneath us. We don't have to go anywhere to find our center—we practice coming home to where we already are.

Thank you for reading!

Please share.

How did these practices land with you? Please comment below. I'd love to hear from you.

Namaste,

Jackie