It's amazing how having all the knowledge in the world about something still doesn't mean you'll necessarily do the things that you know are in your best interests. But I am finally coming to a place in my life where I can see those patterns and moments with humor and reflection rather than blame or guilt. That, in and of itself, is a tremendous shift and I'm quite pleased to see some evolution in my relationship to myself, my body.
Today I actually did get up by 5:30am so I would have time for a little yoga practice, and to follow the Ayurvedic guidelines of rising before sunrise. That was at about 6am today, so I had half an hour of that cozy, chilly nighttime feeling as I fed my boys (2 cats), made some Yogi Licorice tea and generally pattered around my apartment at a nice slow morning speed. I meandered, it was lovely.
My asthma had been an angry bear all night and has been for days. I've been hydrating amply, but there were things I've been having to eat or drink that I know are a bit too rough on my body, but I enjoy them so much I was being thoughtless, to myself. Things like my morning coffee drink, which was usually rice milk, almond milk or cow's milk with Whole Foods instant coffee, cinnamon, organic sugar and sometimes Scharffenberger hot cocoa. So tasty and lovely. I'd have it chilled in the fridge and it was my morning ritual; a sweet, bitter kick in the pants, this morning quite literally.
I did my first Kundalini yoga set in ages, as I'd felt a bit burned out from that and was doing traditional Hatha forms instead, but when I woke up with lungs flooded with goo and obviously not happy, I knew some Breath of Fire and Kundalini magic was just the ticket. I was right. My the end of the gentle 30 minute warm up set from Ravi and Ana's "Total Tune Up" (a perfect morning set!) my lungs were open, clear and calm. Much much better.
So there I was, standing over the sink trimming my plant, not doing anything strenuous when suddenly there was a pang of pain across the band of my lower back that came on so suddenly and so sharp it took my breath away. Damnit, I thought. I can't stay home today, too much important stuff happening, as opposed to our usual mellow days where I serve about as much purpose here as a trained chimpanzee. And I suspect they would be more organized. But when it hit, I knew what to do. Years ago, those pangs would have me flat out for days, panicking, writhing and complaining. This time I knew, my body was crying for help. It happened shortly after I downed that coffee drink, the pure acid I pour into my delicate digestive tract every morning. Point taken, body!
I breathed INTO that space, to bring energy and light there (a yogic training technique), and gingerly walked to where I could try sitting supported, and talked to my body. What did I say? Honestly, I apologized. Like a petulent child that knows better, I knew I couldn't throw something that is like Drano into my beautiful body without consequences, but shut my eyes and pretended otherwise. Now, I was face to face with the fruits of my labor. Pain! Ok, so I breathed and talked and suddenly a supplement flashed into my mind, one I hadn't taken in ages; Mastica. It's a very soothing supplement derived from the gum of the chios tree, an old Greek remedy for the stomach and digestive tract, and I had it on hand. My body loves that stuff; loves the smell, the tastes when it breaks open in the tummy and I sense the flavor, the way it feels. I took 2 and went off to hobble into the shower.
It helped a lot. As I suspected, there was a reason that flashed into my mind. Something like Alleve of Advil could mask the pain a but, but they are both very tough on the stomach, so I know that would compound the cause, which isn't an obvious one, but I know it to be true.
And while there was a time in my life when this would seem like a shitty day or a crappy morning, or I might wonder if getting up early to do yoga had been a mistake...now I know better. I wouldn't be upright if not for the yoga I did, nor would I be breathing free and clear right now. And this morning I both remembered how much I love being up early enough to move as slowly as I like and to enjoy the darkness and cool air before dawn...and I faced up to my own bad habits, with grace, understanding.
I know that this discomfort won't last long. I'm hydrating and alkalizing, and now I am excited to be up before dawn again...the coziness of it all, the warm cup of yummy Yogi Licorice tea, the silence, the stillness...yes, it's well worth departing from my pillows a bit sooner than usual.
I suppose there is a lovely balance of yin and yang in every moment if you open your eyes to see it.
|
|
| Views: 12
Email This to a Friend 