The Yoga-Plant Connection

Yoga is a way to explore yourself. It unlocks things physically you couldn’t dream were accessible, while it allows you to delve into the depths of your own mind. It encapsulates asanas, breathwork and meditation, but is carried over into practices off the mat too. In becoming more aware of yourself and your life, developing an appreciation for nature is inevitable. Yoga brings about a sense of ‘oneness’, a sense that brings you closer to others, the land and to the plants.

There are types of Yoga that don’t focus on postures but relate to your lifestyle. Karma Yoga, the yoga of action, encourages you to act lovingly for the benefit of others and yourself. In gifting something positive to another being, human or otherwise, you are inviting positive energy back into your own life. Our relationship with plants perfectly illuminates this dynamic. When we care for plant habitats and nourish new growth, they offer us oxygen, essential medicines, and foods in return.

Jnana Yoga relates to knowledge, not academic knowledge but the wisdom you find in true experience. As such, the study of natural life in all its forms can contribute to this practice. Try being mindful of the plants in your garden or in your local park: When do they flower? Do they like the shade or the sunshine? Do they survive through winter or are they reborn in spring? You’ll find your own discoveries are more exciting and meaningful than anything you read. This awareness works to calm the mind too, so your studies pave a peaceful path to meditation.

In a literal sense, plants make up a good amount of your diet and are key to maintaining a balanced and energised body, perfect for practice! Ayurveda, the Hindu science of natural medicine, details plant foods that are not only good for you but are geared towards supporting your spiritual journey. Ayurveda is often taught alongside yoga, underpinning the importance of the relationship between yoga and plant nutrition.

Eastern and Western Herbalism also offer many age-old remedies that can enhance your physical and mental practices. Whether you need motivation for a flow, a relaxed mind for Yoga Nidra, or heightened focus for meditation, there is a tea, tonic or tincture infused with plant magic to help you achieve this. Many shamanic cultures even consider plants necessary to their spiritual practice and incorporate them into dances, rituals, and meditations.

The yoga-plant connection is the focus of my own practice and the lessons I share with you. This is epitomised in the name of my brand new website. Both a sacred herb and my favourite twisting asana, The Bound Sage will explore nature-based yoga, plant knowledge, herbal remedies and spiritual traditions.

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