I took a deep breath of fresh mountain air as I stepped out of the car, and my eyes got misty as we meandered through the first of many groves of some of the largest trees on earth.

Like a little kid heading to Disneyland, I bubbled with excitement to show my handsome hubs the giant Sequoia Redwood trees of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, a place from my childhood I’d been longing to return to for years.

I couldn’t resist doing a simple practice one of my coaches gave me a couple of years ago:

Stand with your back against a tree, and let it be your spine. Feel it’s stability and strength, and lean on it. Let it hold you up, and know that support is available and all around you.

As I stood with my back against a tree trunk bigger than a small cottage or cabin, I let its energy, strength, and wisdom fill me up.

Symbols of might, majesty, and longevity, these 2000-year-old giant Sequoias inspire unexpected yoga and wellness practices that can help you handle life’s challenges and live a happier, healthier life.

Developing a Thick Skin

The bark of a Sequoia Redwood tree can be up to 18 to 24 inches thick. [1, 2] Read that again. Just the bark—the outermost layer—can be about as long as my arm. That’s the same as 5-6 Starbucks cups lined up in a row.

Under the bark several more layers surround the core, appropriately named the heartwood. This thick skin protects the inner wood from fire (more on that in a bit). It also contains tannic acid that protects the inner tree from pests and fungi. [3]. It’s the ultimate gatekeeper, letting in nutrients and holding the damaging bits at bay.

In yoga, the point isn’t to give yourself callouses or get a thicker skin literally.

The yogic path and its practices are there to help you lessen the distractions that take you away from connecting to your deepest self. It’s about “keeping out the bugs” that pull you away from that union.

• By eating healthy foods and cleansing the physical body, Saucha (Cleanliness) releases and keeps toxins out of and off the body.

• Asana (Posture) and Pranayama (Breathwork) help you eliminate impurities from the physical body.

• Dharana (Meditation) helps you release and repel negative thoughts.

• Ahimsa (Peace or Non-Violence) helps you recognize unkind behavior and limit your interactions with people who engage in them.

Some ways to practice this concept include:

1. Take a shower and imagine the water washing away anything that no longer serves you.

2. Perform 12 or more mindful Surya Namaskar or complete a practice that focuses on twists.

3. Do a cocoon meditation to surround yourself in protective white light.

4. Set boundaries to limit exposure to the toxic people in your life.

Embracing the Heat

Although the more severe and frequent wildfires of late have killed a significant portion of the Sequoia Redwoods, some fire and heat are necessary for them to grow as big, tall, and strong as they are.

Their cones need heat to release the seeds, which won’t grow unless the forest floor is clear of brush growth and littered leaves, twigs, etc. Small to moderate fires are Mother Nature’s waste management service in a Sequoia grove. They clear away the debris so that the seedlings can grow. Experts also believe their thick outer layer and high canopy are adaptations to insulate them from the fires needed for their offspring. [2]

Yoga teaches that Raga (Attachment to Pleasure) and Dvesha (Aversion to Pain) are afflictions that prevent you from finding the union you seek, and that, like the Sequoias, facing difficulty and challenges makes you stronger and more resilient.

• Tapas (Perseverance or Zeal for Practice) is a personal practice that also literally means heat. Through the fire of your practice (including and beyond postures), you purify yourself, and become healthier, more flexible and increasingly fearless.

• Your posture practice gives you a playground for trying more and more challenging things. That’s why it’s super important to practice the “hard” poses or ones you don’t like as well as the ones you love.

• Dharana (Concentration) and Dhiyana (Meditation) help you stay focused and return to yourself even when your thoughts are unpleasant.

Some options for invoking this quality of withstanding the heat are:

1. Do a pose that you normally stay away from because it seems too hard or unpleasant. Notice the sense of accomplishment and confidence you feel just from facing your discomfort and trying.

2. Find a meditation technique that works for you and stay with it.

3. Kindly tell the truth, even when it’s hard. Have a difficult conversation. Push the boulder uphill at work. Persevere through challenges, even when you want to run and hide or give up (but be smart enough to know when you need to let go).

Leaning into Support

Sequoia trees are as strong as they are because of their networks of roots. Rather than growing deep into the earth, they tend to reach down and sideways—up to 100 feet out from the trunk—to intertwine with the roots of others. [4] This web of roots is like holding hands. If you start to fall, someone’s got you.

They often grow in circles and support diverse ecosystems within their branches as well. Just like you, when Sequoias thrive, others do too.

Contrary to what some might say or think, relying on support doesn’t make you less independent. It gives you freedom to do things that you might not otherwise be able to do.

In yoga, support comes in many forms, including the ancient texts that share what yoga is and how to practice it.

• The Yama (Restraints) are practices that yogis willingly undertake in their interactions to lessen the distractions that takes them away from the yogic path. They offer a field of possibilities for learning and growing, giving and receiving support.

• In particular, Asteya (Abundance) teaches you that there is more than enough for everyone.

• Asana (Postures) help you create a stable foundation, and practicing with support like bolsters, blocks, blankets, and the Great Yoga Wall, gives you access to poses you didn’t think you could do.

Practices like the following ones can help you lean into support:

1. Try restorative, partner or acroyoga to feel firsthand what it’s like to rely on support.

2. Practice postures with the Great Yoga Wall.

3. Keep a gratitude list to remember the abundance that is all around you.

4. Stand with your back leaning on a tree and let it support you.

There are many more lessons about yoga and life you can glean from the Sequoia Redwood trees.

Doing even just one of these practices can have a profound positive effect when you do it with intention and presence.

The next time someone hurls an insult your way, remember the thick skin of the Sequoias.

The next time you need to do something uncomfortable, remember how the Sequoias withstand the heat.

The next time you need support, remember the support of the Sequoias.

Even if you can’t walk among them, their wisdom, strength, and resilience can still impact your life and live through you in your practice.

Want more help developing a thicker skin, doing hard things, and leaning into support? Click the button to schedule your free consult with me, where you’ll gain clarity, learn some next steps to take, and explore whether working together would be a good fit.

This information is for educational and informational purposes only and solely as a self-help tool for your own use. I am not providing medical, psychological, or nutrition therapy advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your own medical practitioner. Always seek the advice of your own medical practitioner and/or mental health provider about your specific health situation.

[1] https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/bigtrees.htm?fbclid=IwAR10PIcBssMlNeOnaZpVv0znb-n9oNWXbIVUS2l3tN4Yw-9FsrfL73cRiEQ

[2] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/meet-the-giant-sequoia-the-super-tree-built-to-withstand-fire/

[3] https://www.savetheredwoods.org/blog/what-lies-beneath-anatomy-of-redwoods/

[4] https://sempervirens.org/learn/redwood-facts/#fact-list