Taking time to connect to the environment is a key part of feeling healthy and happy.

When travelling to a new place, where so much is unknown, or embarking on new experiences, it’s essential to get grounded first.

Especially if there are going to be adventures to follow which may take you out of your comfort zone!

One of my first missions with my guests is to help them feel at home.

Home is not just a house or a town where we live, it’s a feeling – a feeling of being safe, secure, and comfortable where we are.

I refer to us having two homes – our body, and the Earth.

I have a few grounding practices I use as early as possible in the week.

Firstly, our movement practice helps us to connect to our bodies, and I complement our Grounding Chi Yoga with a breathwork and a mantra I got from the work of Thich Naht Hanh.

“Breathing in, coming into my body. Breathing out, I am home”.

It’s so simple, yet so powerful.

Like my other favourite grounding mantra :

“This is where I am right now”.

I’ve used this myself over the years if I’ve been struck with anxiety, and I’ve begun to disassociate. It’s also great for just accepting things as they are, instead of trying to fight against what’s happening.

Another invaluable tool has been walking, and this is an integral part of the holidays I run. Getting the feet on the Earth, getting connected to the local environment and observing all the wonderful gifts that nature holds helps guests get grounded.

I recall a saying I learned from an old climbing buddy of mine Mark Bullock:

Solvitur Ambulando – the Latin term meaning “it is solved by walking”.

Many insights, moments of clarity and solutions to problems appear while out walking.

These are the moments I live for, when the guests are able to get grounded, and gain new perspective while away on holiday. The starting point of all transformation is awareness.

One of the benefits to me is getting to know everyone better. Walking side by side, sharing stories and experiences, we learn more about each other and from each other.

I believe I have something new to learn from each of my guests. I don’t actively seek it out but it always comes if I stay open and curious.

One of the things I learned in the first week was that following the rain there are even more negative ions in the environment, so the benefits of walking outside are even more profound.

I understand this in my thinking mind, but I also feel it in my body. I know the moment when the group seems to “drop in” to that state or groundedness.

That’s when they start to notice – the flowers, the signs, the animals and the smell of petrichor (after the rain).

And that’s when the magic appears ….