Did you know every year more than a BILLION people celebrate Earth Day?! April 22 is officially designated as Earth Day, but as yogis (and humans) we are always connected to the rhythms and well-being of our precious planet -so in that sense, everyday is Earth Day. Whether its weather events, the plants we eat or the energizing electric charge we receive from walking barefoot on the ground –the earth challenges us, nourishes us, and energizes us. We're connected to the planet in a billion ways whether we like it or not -so the key question is: how conscious are we of this connection?
Recently, while watching my kid scamper over the playground equipment I made idle small talk with a perfectly nice lady who was enjoying a smoke. Cigarettes aren't my thing, but hey it was a beautiful day, there was a downwind breeze so who was I to judge? After a few minutes she looked at the time, tossed her cigarette on the ground, scooped up her own kid and headed back to her car.
I stared after her and called out, 'Hey! What the fuck? -there's kids around!". I'm guessing she heard me; but chose to ignore my self-appointed role as Ranger Rick. I pulled out a dog bag from the park dispenser, picked up the butt and tossed it out --all the while basking in the glow of my halo. This was far from the first time, I'd seen a smoker toss cavalierly toss a cigarette butt. Back in New York butts were more common than Pigeons. I had long speculated that the casual disregard of ones health was somehow directly related to a sense of disregard for the planet.
But very quickly, my self-congratulatory moment faded. I was aware that I was being judgey -which is rarely the play, if only because it's rarely effective. Also, in all my yogic glory, I fully realized I was being a hypocrite. It was only too easy to think of countless ways that I disconnect from the earth on a daily basis -I drove to the park, when I could have biked, I use Amazon for most of my groceries when the weekly local farmer's market is less than a mile away, the list goes on.
So maybe that's what Earthday is about -a reminder to all of us to become more conscious and grateful for our planet that makes all things possible.
Earthday was created in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin senator. It was the tail-end of 1960s "hippy" culture, and there was a growing sense that things needed to radically change. Industrial smog choked our cities, pre-catalytic converter cars belched leaded smoke, and our waterways were so polluted that the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio literally caught fire when stray sparks inflamed the river's oil slicks! The idea of an "Earthday" immediately struck a chord and on April 22, 1970, millions of people—students, teachers, politicians, regular folks from around the country showed up to listen to music and inspiring speakers sharing a message, “This matters.” That day sparked a movement. Laws were passed, the EPA was created, and people started to accept that the individual choices we make—what we buy, how we eat, etc. -also have consequences.
Earth Day has never stopped growing. What started as a national teach-in is now a global event, with over a billion people in nearly every country taking part. But at its core, it’s still about awareness and action. It’s about asking ourselves: How can we bring the mindfulness we practice on the yoga mat into the rest of our lives? How can we care for the earth, and for each other?
Maybe it starts with a single breath, a single choice, a single day. And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough to make a difference
YOU MATTER. THE EARTH MATTERS. YOU MATTER TO THE EARTH.
It's all too easy to lose touch with the natural world that sustains us. We spend our days indoors, absorbed in technology and screens. We can fall into wasteful consumption and mindless behaviors and no one needs reminding of the "cold" reality of a warming planet.
But it is essential to remember, there are also powerful reasons for hope. Rather than feeling overwhelmed –join the global collective consciousness that’s been activated like never before! Billions of people are acting in billions of ways to heal themselves and the planet and you get to be a part of it all! From clean energy to carbon capture to mindful eating -- solutions to the climate crisis are more affordable and accessible than ever before.
In just a few decades of focused human endeavor the renewable energy from solar, wind, and other green sources now outperforms fossil fuels on price and new sources! Electric vehicles are going mainstream. Delicious plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy are making sustainable eating more appealing. Just like the ancients celebrated the earth’s rhythms with festivals for planting and harvesting – we should celebrate these achievements and use our collective energy to achieve even more. Isn’t our incredible planet and all she has provided to humankind - a motivation for staying in the fight?
A YOGIC RESPONSE
At our core, humans know we are not separate from Mother Earth. Her pain is our pain. Her healing is our healing. When we connect with our true selves, we cannot help but be moved to protect her.
The path of the yogi is to live in alignment with nature. So on this special Earth Day we’ve collected a few actionable ways that can help you tread lightly, live thoughtfully and reduce our footprint.
1. Cultivating Mindfulness and Yoga in everyday life: This is perhaps the most important principal of all and the well spring for many other positive actions. By bringing our attention to the present moment, we breath into the rhythms of the earth. This elevates our consciousness, leading to gratefulness for mother earth, reduction of consumption habits and reduced waste generation.
2. Embracing Yogic Minimalism : Do we really need new yoga apparel and equipment with every fashion “drop?” Or…should we keep an eye out for well made, timeless items that are made to last? Yoga teachings promote letting go of attachments to material possessions. This aligns with the minimalist philosophy of consuming less and reducing our ecological footprint Our ecological practices should embrace “Re-using” first, before we consider recycling or replacing.
3) Ahimsa (Non-Violence): This core yogic principle extends to minimizing harm to all living beings, including animals and the environment. This can inspire plant-based diets and reduced exploitation of natural resources.
4) Get Out!
Practicing yoga outdoors and "forest bathing" deepens our connection and appreciation for the natural world, motivating us to protect it. The simple act of walking barefoot absorbs an electrical charge with proven health benefits
5) Eco-Friendly Equipment Elevates Your Yoga Practice:
Look for natural renewable materials like hemp or organic cotton for your apparel, yoga towels and yoga straps and choose biodegradable materials like natural rubber or recyclable materials like TPE when buying your yoga mats. It’s cool to think that what’s good for our bodies is good for the earth!
TREES HELP ORCAS & ORCAS ARE COOL
Kinshē partners with One Tree Planted to plant one tree with every purchase. These trees help restore forests in the wake of devastating wildfires and repair damage caused by industry and erosion. Amazingly, by restoring riparian forest habitats in the Pacific Northwest, salmon habitat recovers which in turn helps the recovery of the endangered Southern Resident Orcas who feed on the salmon!
When we hit this mat on this special Earth Day, let’s celebrate how positive actions "Upstream" benefit ecosystems "Downstream" and take a sacred vow to tread more lightly, live more mindfully, and cherish our amazing planet with every breath.
Happy Earth Day!
