You did not ask for this list but, I'm going to tell you anyway :)

"Being "grounded" means that you're present in your body and connected with the earth."

I have been trying to write a blog like this for the past three months. Every time I wrote it I stumbled through various explanations as to why I even needed to be grounded in the first place. I decided to focus on one reason- we are living in a pandemic (plus a political and racial revolution topped up with a lack of job opportunities and a sprinkle of isolation... okay, that's four reasons!).

This life adjustment has not been easy for me. I lost a huge amount of motivation to keep up with my eating habits, physique, mental health, and even my performing career. But with the help of my family, friends, a therapist (thank you parental insurance!) and the resources I am going to share with you now, I've managed to not only maintain my sense of self, but also opened a portal for healing and growth.

If you're a mover, dancer, someone interested in moving more, or just need to "come back" into your body, the 6 things that I mention will hopefully help you ground yourself at little to no cost. I am a big fan of freebies. I am also considering that money is extremely tight for most of us. All of these resources are found online. So, let's get into it!

Note: I am not being compensated to share this information. I'm simply passionate about these things and want to share.

1. The Embodiment Conference, October 14-25, 2020

$0 for basic access

Embodiment is a visible or concrete form of an idea, sensation, or quality. For example, in Punchdrunk's Sleep No More , I embodied the physicality of a witch! Methods of embodiment include dance, music, theatre, yoga, martial arts, and meditation- to name a few. In this conference, you will be able to watch 1000+ presentations from leaders in the field including Peter Levine, Ohad Naharin, Alanis Morissette, and Daria Halprin. Anyone involved or interested in movement should take advantage of this!

2. This interview with Resmaa Menakem

$0

The author of My Grandmother's Hands, my #1 resource on racial trauma and somatic psychology as it pertains to racism and people of the African Diaspora in the Americas, has so many interviews or podcasts available online. If you do not know this therapist and writer get into him right now by listening to/reading this interview.

3. Animal Flow

$0 because Youtube!

If you ever want a short but intense workout that heats you up from the inside out then try Animal Flow. The movement style is based on the ground and focuses on mobility, flexibility, and strengthening. Imagine yoga but with more "animalistic" movements like crawling, jumping, and squatting. Personally, I receive a lot of pleasure from intense movements like this. I am taking a Level 1 workshop at the end of the month with the intention of getting certified. Get ready for my future classes and start with this video!

4. These books: The Body Keeps the Score and/or Healing the Tiger

$0 because Youtube and my savvy e-book searching skills

The infamous psychology books by Bessel van der Kolk and Peter Levine helped revolutionize how we currently think about trauma and somatic psychology. And *whispers* I have a link to these books on PDF. I found them online...for free!

Here is a link to the audiobook for The Body Keeps the Score if that suits you too.

If you want a link to the PDF, email me at contact@imjoymarie.com with the Subject "The Body Keeps the Score and/or Healing the Tiger Request".

Another book I want to add to this list is Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by adrienne maree brown. But you should absolutely invest money into the labor of a queer black woman so, buy it here!

5. Guided Meditations

$0 because Youtube and apps!

I'm working on developing a disciplined meditation practice and I encourage everyone to do the same. When beginning, you may find it helpful to have someone with a soothing voice guide you through it. You can find more guided meditations on apps like Insight Timer (so many amazing free meditations) and Calm (the free version).

6. Opting out of Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter

$0 unless you're an influencer.

I physically, mentally, and spiritually cannot watch non-Black people project their newfound acquired knowledge about racism on the socials nor can I witness people hanging out without masks. It is severely disappointing to see during my time of recognizing the grief that comes with specific loss in this time whether it's due to racism or lack of health. Unfortunetly, I have family members that are being affected by or with COVID. Opting out of social media has proven to clear out interactions and information that do not serve me or my higher self. I do not see myself jumping back on those platforms any time soon...but if you see me on Tik Tok mind your business... that app is hilariously entertaining.

If you made it to the end of this blog, congratulations. You are one of my favorite people now and I appreciate you lots. Let me know if this was helpful or not. I hope you stay healthy in the mind, body, and spirit. Bless!