Getting Back on Track

With the holiday last week, I lost track of certain aspects of my living yoga. My healthy eating habits all but went out the window. Falling back into old habits seemed comfortable at first. But now, a few days later I'm definitely feeling the effects. Adding sugar back to the diet and having a few fast food meals created a huge change in my system. I'm feeling lethargic, cranky and my immune system has been compromised. Now I get to fight off a cold.

I was able to keep my spiritual practice in focus for the most part since I could meditate and practice pranayama. I missed some of my favorite yoga classes, which also affected my physical strength. Coming back to classes after time away, you feel more sore than usual. Again that messes with my mood too.

The best thing about experiencing this week is that I can really relate to others how great it feels to clean your body of junk both in what you eat and in movement practices (or lack there of). Its good to have the awareness of how good it feels to be eating healthy, practicing asana regularly and having the quiet time for myself for meditation.

This week was good also since I received two books in the mail about living a yogic lifestyle. They are written by Judith Lasater. They are called "Living Your Yoga" and " A Year of Living your Yoga".  The second offers a daily quote and and intention for living yoga each day of the year. The first talks about finding a more spiritual path with yoga for personal growth, with relationships and within your community. It quotes the sutras often and helps make them more accessible for everyday life. You'll be hearing more about this book in the next few weeks as I complete reading it.

The take away for this week was that although I was able to be focused on my spiritual practice, when I do not take care of my body by what I put in it and how/if I move it, the body eventually will break down making it difficult to practice any aspects of yoga until I make a change.

Thanks Universe! Message received---eating more veggies as we speak!