Redwoods Reflection 2025
“The VonGlanson Family Singers.”
Glennard and I just did our yearly camping trip with dear friends at Jedediah Smith State Park. We strolled shady trails in the presence of 3000 year old Redwoods standing 300 feet tall and swam The Smith, California’s only undammed river and one of the cleanest in the world. Lucky us.
One glorious early-morning skinny dip I was drinking all it when I tasted the salt of my own tears mixed with the river water. With quiet all around, my ears ingested the trickle sound of my breaststroke, and blinking in the light, my eyes feasted on boundless greens and grays. As I felt my skin shiver under the cool current, my arm rippled no differently than the smooth stones beneath, and for a moment I lost track of where the river ended and I began.
Then I noticed G doing a weiner dance on the beach, and my guffaw catapulted me back into separateness.
In Ayurveda, we recognize that we are not just deeply connected with nature, but that we are nature – and therefore our well-being is intricately linked with the natural world. This ancient system of medicine teaches that the same elements, forces and principles that compose and guide the universe also exist within us. As above, so below. So by attuning ourselves to the wisdom and rhythms of nature – the cycles of the seasons, the phases of the moon, and the daily transitions between day and night – we find balance and harmony.
But it’s dang easy to forget this. It is much easier to be convinced we are separate and the rules don’t apply to us. Insert rebel fantasies and rugged individualism here.
Given that this is the month of August, let’s float on this lily pad for a moment. When used as an adjective, "august" means inspiring reverence or admiration; it connotes grandeur, dignity, and awe. It is often used to describe something or someone that is profoundly respected and honored.
Ya know, like nature.
Yet, how often do we disrespect nature? If you believe we ARE nature and our lives are inextricably tied to the cycles of it – as one can well know while camping blue-screen free and getting tired as soon as the sun sinks low – then why do we continue to perpetuate such disrespect?
And what is the price we pay? Well, we pay with our lives – the reduced quality and longevity of our days on this earth.
When we disregard or purposely sever our innate connection to nature we get sick. Ayurveda emphasizes living in alignment with natural cycles, understanding that our health flourishes when we honor our intrinsic connection to the earth.
For years, I thought I was a night owl. I loved the quiet when the world went to bed. Around 10p, I’d get a burst of energy and be up until 2-3a. Then I’d sleep until 10a. After studying and applying Ayurvedic principles to my life, I learned that 10-2 AM and PM is the pitta time.
Pitta is a combination of the fire and water elements. During the day, it’s a time of optimal focus and productivity, and at night it’s our body’s optimal healing window. It is a nature-made time to transform our day’s experiences and regenerate, and if we miss out and instead use that fuel to finish a paper, binge-watch or doom scroll, we get out of sync.
One of the first things I shifted as I took more agency over my health was to try to be asleep by 10p. “A good day starts the night before”, and it didn’t take long for me to naturally awaken by 5:45a feeling rested and alert rather than sluggish and groggy. Now, quiet early mornings are my favorite time of day, and I look forward to waking up which, for many reasons, I didn’t before.
It would take me 300 pages to tell you all of the benefits I’ve received by applying Ayurvedic practices to my lifestyle, so here is the short list:
Reversed my “IBS” digestive issues – which were significant and debilitating
Reversed gluten and dairy intolerances
Cleared painful and embarrassing skin issues
Restored my mental health after depressions since age 18
Ayurveda encourages individuals to take charge of their health to cultivate balance and vitality, and its way of defining health is different from most western perspectives. Health is not merely the absence of a diagnosis. Health is the absence of symptoms that keep us from enjoying life.
Ayurvedically, the signs of health include:
Radiant, clear, supple skin
Bright, clear eyes
Smooth and regular elimination of waste, including feces, urine, sweat, and tears
Consistent energy levels throughout the day, free from highs and lows
Inner tranquility that contributes to a calm and harmonious demeanor and mental clarity
Sound and restful, uninterrupted sleep where you awaken feeling refreshed
A smooth and clear voice, free from crackling or roughness
A well-balanced appetite without cravings
A strong sense of self-assuredness
If you experience any of the following Ayurvedic imbalances, you can feel better:
Morning grogginess upon waking
Persistent fatigue
Digestive issues such as constipation or diarrhea
Experiencing symptoms of PMS
Feelings of fear or anxiety
Frequent susceptibility to colds and illnesses
Insomnia or sleep disturbances
Nocturnal urination
Occasional dizziness
Frequent burping and excessive gas
Post-meal bloating
A general sense of discomfort
Occasional heartburn and acid reflux
Recurrent headaches
Persistent bodily stiffness
In a world that constantly pulls us out of rhythm, Ayurveda calls us home to ourselves, to nature, to what’s real and sustainable. My annual plunge into the Smith River reminded me just how thin the veil is, and how healing it can be when that veil dissolves, even briefly. Being both the swimmer and the stream mirrors what Ayurveda teaches: we are not broken machines to be fixed, but that we are more like plants and when we align with natural rhythms, healing becomes not just possible, but inevitable.
