Groundswell Grounding Guidelines

these guidelines where adopted from our sisters at First Aid Arts as an embodied agreement to honor yourself, eachother, and this earth as we paddle out into the waves of life together.

Groundswell “I-Ams”

This simple embodiment practice engages the thinking brain in the second stage of Positive Psychology as you recognize and name your strengths, hold space for duality, and allow others to se, hear, and honor you.

Beauty Gratitude

Look around and name 3 of the most beautiful things available to you at the moment: This engages our gratitude and the ability to hold dualities amid challenging times.

Mother Ocean Within Us

Honoring our connection to Mother Ocean, this practice increases body awareness, activates mirror neurons, and engages entrainment through welcoming the figure 8 movement of the lunar tides into our body.

Object Sensations

When hyper-aroused, this practice helps bring the mind back into the body and its surrounding conditions through the use of our senses. What do you notice?

Squeeze & Release

Brings in body awareness and helps release any extra stress hormone residing in the body from a fight or flight experience.

Groundswell Popup

The groundswell pop-up invites us to tap into the wisdom of our body and breath as our surf guide. Moving from left brain to right brain, bringing attention to the activation of our SNS and PNS, and embracing the full flow of wave riding.

Groundswell Wave Breath

Our breath, like waves, are in constant ebb and flow. This breath visualization invites long exhales that activate and tones your Vagus nerve (the longest nerve in your body running from the stem of your brain to your digestive system).

Groundswell Power Stance

This embodiment practice can be used at home or in the sea to reconnect and reclaim power and confidence in your body which releases chemicals in the brain that allow you to feel in control, powerful, and safe

Sand Mandala

When hyper aroused this practice helps bring the mind back into the body through tactile objects and nature touch in the present present moment. Creating patterns in a mandala brings the thinking brain online. This can be practiced with art supplies or the natural resources the beach provides.

Heart Check-In

It can only takes 3 seconds to pause and connect with your heart. This simple practice can support when experiencing hyper-arousal in the mind and body.

Five Senses

Our senses are our pathway to the present. The Ocean provides a tangible and powerful connection to the present moment through invigorating our senses.

Animal Noises

Like the Wave breath, the longer exhale tones your Vagus nerve. The animal roar or expressive facial features allows the expulsion of aggression hormones. This is known as a Healthy aggression release practice (also known as Lions’ breath).

Groundswell Tapping

Accessible wether you are on your surf board waiting for the next set or at the office, tapping welcomes entrainment, body awareness, and release.

Groundswell Shaka Breath

This surfy adaptation of the Bilateral Nostril Breath helps release stored-up stress hormones that may still be stored in the body from experiences of Fight or Flight.