Everyone's Earth: Make OHMazing™ Choices

It is lovely indeed, it is lovely indeed.
I, I am the spirit within the earth...
The feet of the earth are my feet...
The legs of the earth are my legs...
The bodily strength of the earth is my strength...
The thoughts of the earth are my thoughts...
The voice of the is my voice...
The feather of the earth is my feather...
All that belongs to the earth belongs to me...
All that surrounds the earth surrounds me...
I, I am the sacred words of the earth...
It is lovely indeed, it is lovely indeed.
~ Navajo song

In Yogiños: Yoga for Youth® classes, we talk a lot about what it means to be OHMazing™ and to make OHMazing™ choices.

Eating healthy foods enables us to practice Yamas and Niyamas.

OHM is the primordial sound that underlies all of creation, and its vibration connects all beings and things to one another. Anytime we say or chant OHM, we are remembering and honoring our interconnectedness.

Together, the words OHM and amazing celebrate our interconnectedness. To make an OHMazing™ choice is to make the choice that best supports and uplifts oneself, others, and the environment.

Here is one of my favorite ways to discuss with youth—as young as age 3—about how our choices impact the earth.

• Show an orange soda, carton of orange juice, an orange.
• Ask "Which one is the most OHMazing™ choice?"
• Because the orange is closest to the earth—made by the earth 100%, and 100% of it can be comsumed by humans and the earth (composting)—it is the most OHMazing™ choice.
• Depending on the age of your participants, conversations can explore the materials and energy it takes to make and recycle the packaging for the juice.
• Here I often introduce that eating closer to earth—foods that come directly from earth—is also an OHMazing™ choice.

Dylan enjoys eating foods found closer to the earth.

Including activities about health, nutrition and the earth are part of Yogiños: Yoga for Youth® classes. Asanas, or the yoga postures that we commonly see in yoga classes, are just one of 8 limbs of yoga. The 8 limbs of yoga provide a framework for living our lives. Each of the 8 limbs of yoga supports the other 7 limbs. Igniting interest, conversations and activities that celebrate Everyone's Earth promotes practice of 2 limbs: the Yamas (good choices for others) and Niyamas (good choices for oneself).

How do you select foods and other items that are mindful of our earth? What can you and your family do this weekend to celebrate and take care of the earth?

Let's take time this weekend to touch the earth, toco la tierra!

by Elizabeth Reese, Ph.D.