Earth Day Mantra

And other ways to celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is this Tuesday, and I thought it would be great to have a mantra or affirmation for the week that helps us feel connected to the earth as well as empowered in knowing we can make a difference. It can get overwhelming and worrisome when we hear about the damage being done to our planet. I remember that, as a young girl, I used to stay up late worrying about where all the garbage was going. I would have discussions with my dad every night as he tucked me in, and I vividly remember asking him what we do about all of the garbage that’s accumulated. I hated to think of the piles of junk out at the dump yard. We used to drive to the dump to drop off large items.

My dad always took us camping and taught us how not to leave anything behind. He was quite ahead of his time, in my opinion, in how he viewed the planet. He would say we are too egotistical to think we could “save” such an incredible place. The Earth will keep spinning whether humans are on it or not. We can only work to save ourselves and to protect the planet as best we can, so we can all enjoy it for as long as possible. My brothers and I loved to be in nature, and I have the strongest feet from years of walking barefoot on dirt and rocks. We had a pond in our backyard and access to a natural spring where we’d search for crawdads. I loved growing up in nature, so, ironically, I ended up in New York City. But there are ways we can make a difference in urban, suburban, and rural environments.

I’ve always been quite the conservationist, to be honest. When I lived in my first tiny NYC apartment, I was very aware of not using more than I needed. I was pretty minimalistic, and my boyfriend at the time was the same. Mark and I shopped locally and daily. We never threw out or wasted much food. We recycled a lot of our clothing and did lots of thrift store shopping. I was getting into yoga at this time and was very fascinated by how much the ancient yogis honored the earth.

Mark and I (in my recycled dress)

Through ahimsa (non-harming), grounding practices like barefoot walking and forest bathing, as well as mantras and meditation, yogis showed their reverence for the Earth. Certain yoga asanas (postures) connect us with nature and the Earth’s elements. Breathwork practices were used to unite with all living things, including animals, trees, plants, and flowers.

When my (now ex-) husband first came to my apartment in Soho (I went from the East Village to Washington Square to Soho), he commented on how minimal I was and how “bare bones” things were. I don’t like to be surrounded by too much stuff. My little apartment was just fine for me. I truly hate to be wasteful and feel bad when I end up throwing out any leftovers. NYC and many cities have started composting, and I love it! It’s so easy to keep a little compost bin on your counter and add eggshells, scraps of food, even coffee grounds to it. Many cities incentivize composting by making the monthly garbage fee cheaper if you have a bin and use it.

It can sometimes feel like an uphill battle when we think of doing things to preserve our planet, but we can also make a big difference. All of those little things do add up—recycling, bringing your bags to the grocery store, using public transportation more often, walking or cycling places, donating old clothing, and buying from companies that focus on zero waste or sustainable practices. Eating seasonally and supporting local farmers is a wonderful way to reduce our carbon footprint. Supporting brands that use sustainable practices is another way to do our best when it comes to preserving this amazing place we live in.

I partnered with SEAAV because they use recycled plastics (after removing toxins from them) to make their clothing. For every outfit purchased, one pound of plastic is removed from our oceans. SEAAV is also committed to preserving our coral reefs. When you purchase, use CODE EARTHDAY for 30% off in honor of Earth Day. I LOVE their high-waisted yoga pants, skorts, sports bras, and dresses.

Here’s a simple Earth Day-inspired yoga sequence you can try at home to feel more grounded and connected to nature:

• Sun Salutations – to greet the sun

• Tree Pose – feel your roots

• Butterfly Pose and Flower Pose (from butterfly pose, lift your legs and float your arms underneath to form the shape of a flower) – honor the beauty in Mother Nature

• Savasana – lie on the ground and feel supported by the Earth

And a simple mantra you can use:

I am the Earth
I am the Earth
I am the Earth

I often use this mantra during my morning meditation or while walking in nature, allowing it to root me in the present moment. When we repeat this in our minds, we remind ourselves we are not separate from the planet but instead a part of it. We have a deep connection to nature, and we are all connected. We all have a responsibility to leave things better than we found them.

I hope we can continue to preserve our beautiful planet for all generations to come. I’m looking forward to taking my boys camping with Grandpa this summer, so we can all remember how breathtaking our Earth is and how important it is to cherish her, celebrate her, and enjoy her in a way that is mindful and loving—the same way we do this for ourselves.

Let’s care for the Earth the way we care for ourselves—with intention, love, and respect.