The quote in the photo was taken from the back of a GTS Kombucha bottle, their fall season edition. It felt very T’ai Chi to me. Sink and root is one of the classic principles when practicing T’ai Chi, and the thought of rooting ourselves in gratitude, seemed perfect for this time of year as we approach the beginning of the holiday season tomorrow on Thanksgiving.

The principles of sink and root in T’ai Chi are:

Sink and root your…

• breath to the lower dantian
• mind to the lower dantian
• weight to the earth
• strength to the earth

… and allow your spirit to rise

When I would co-teach with Sifu Clair, we would have our beginning students remain in horse stance and have them speak out the four elements of sink and root and the one that rises. It was fun keeping them in horse stance until they spoke all of them. There was always someone who knew every one, but we would say, okay you’re done, someone else’s turn.

I thought I would share ways to sink and root while growing with gratitude through the holiday:

Sink and root…

• by being mindful when eating. Giving thanks for the abundance in front of you.
• into someone else’s predictability, their norm their nature. Accept it. Forgive it, or just tolerate it.
• with the flow. You may have plans, they may change, just go with it, instead of resist it.
• into joy. Hang out with the littles they always know how to have fun and bring a smile to your face.
• your breath. Go into the bathroom and reset with yourself with dantian breathing, and then come back out ready to begin again. Repeat as often as necessary.
• into BEing. (Breathe & Expand) right where you are with each moment that arises.

Simply breathe into your holiday and relax, it will be over before you know it. Enjoy what you can and let the rest go. We’re all in this together, be kind to one another and let them BE. Go through the holiday with LOVE in your heart for yourself and others.