My sanctuary, my haven, my favorite place in the world is the kitchen floor. When asked, ‘If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?’ I might say, ‘The beach!’ but deep down, it’s my kitchen floor that truly calls to me. Let me share with you the reasons why. My kitchen floor is covered in a rug from Aldi’s that was a gift from a friend. This rug is soft and woven with dozens of different colored fabrics, creating a mesmerizing, mass-produced piece of art for me to collapse onto after a long day. Once I am splayed out on the rug, I feel free to let my thoughts wander. If you are anything like me, you have too many thoughts that need to escape your brain immediately because they are all too loud or too quiet, and that can make you feel uncomfortable. Regardless, you search for stability and find yourself on the floor to get it.
Little did I know, this ‘floor time’ was not a unique quirk of mine. A few years ago, I witnessed my wife, after finishing a work project, slide onto the floor like a zombie. Intrigued and comforted by this shared ritual, I joined her, and we found solace in the simple act of existing together in that moment. just like the ‘savasana’ or ‘corpse pose’ in yoga, ‘floor time’ is a practice that allows the floor to support you, releasing tension in your muscles and helping you physically and mentally let go. This simple yet powerful practice can reset your nervous system, leaving you feeling calm and relaxed. It is exactly as it sounds. One minute, you are doing whatever you are doing, and the next, you
are prone out on the floor. Ideally, this is in a safe place where you can just focus on existing. You lay down however you feel most comfortable and focus on taking one inhale, holding for a second or two, and then slowly exhaling on repeat. As you sink into tranquility, you’ll feel a sense of inner peace ebb and flow with each breath. Some may choose to close their eyes, while others let their gaze wander around the room. Eventually, you’ll sense that enough time has passed, and you’re ready to rise and continue with your day. Perhaps a pet’s interruption (my dog has stepped on me) or a child’s intrusion breaks the spell, and you find yourself wiggling your toes, noticing the fridge’s hum, and wondering if it’s always been that noisy. That’s okay! Floor time is excellent for regulating, so by the time you begin to notice things around you, that awareness can help bring you back to the present. There is no particular goal of floor time besides getting there and getting up. You noticed you needed to take a minute for yourself, and so you did! I love that for you.
See you on the floor, friends!
Cheers,
Bonnie
https://yogainternational.com/article/view/shavasana-the-posture-of-relief-silence-and-stillness/
https://www.bustle.com/wellness/tiktok-floor-time
https://www.businessinsider.com/floor-time-why-it-works-how-to-do-it-2024-6