It takes less time to do things right than to explain why you did it wrong.
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This is the third of March, 3/3, so it is my first Groundhog Day Resolutions check- in. I gave myself a challenge on Groundhog Day (2/2) to practice a defined sequence of yoga postures and to eat fresh fruits and vegetables during the day. Every day.
This is what I've learned so far:
This is what I've learned so far:
- Planning and shopping for raw foods can be a challenge in itself.
- A set practice has enormous benefits and I now want a specific time for it.
I found out very quickly that a constant and consistent source of raw fruits and vegetables requires a constant and consistent shopping plan. I have an oasis to rely on, just steps away from home, and my own Vita-Mix blender allows me to consume a bag full of fresh fruits and veggies in one flick of a finger (not counting the time spent washing and cutting). In less than ten minutes I can make a quart of my own smoothie and consume a whole romaine lettuce, 2 bananas, a whole papaya, 2 oranges, a slice of ginger, a cup of frozen blueberries, some flaxseed oil, the kitchen sink, and then some. My next step is to learn more about nutrient-dense foods and add them to my menu.
My dinners haven't changed much from what I mentioned in my Eat Local Challenge list, and I still eat whatever appeals to me when I have dinner out. I'm not on a diet, I'm not a vegetarian, vegan or raw foodie. I'm just a woman who does yoga and tries to eat in a manner that makes her happy. I eat well (by my own standards) 75-80% of the time; no absolute restrictions, no guilt. I remind myself everyday to take it easy and keep it delightful.
My yoga practice has been going well and I'm grateful for, and have relied upon, the abridged version of the Mother Sequence. Many people around the world, with a variety of ailments, have seen relief just by doing the sequence and eating,as I try to, for 21 days. So my thoughts are, "Why not do it all the time, or at least for a large percentage of the time?" I've also decided that as much as possible, I don't want to say "no" to the entire sequence, nor to the time I wish to spend with certain people in my life. That is why I'm now going to get up earlier and practice in the hours when no one would ask me to join them to have fun (5am). Tuesdays are an exception, I meet with a group of happy people at 7am to practice the Mother Sequence!
I started off just wanting a regular yoga sequence and to eat better, but I can already see that March is going to be all about order and organization. In yoga, it's not the final pose that makes a difference in your body or life, but the work and awareness it takes to get you there. We don't make roundtrip travel plans just so that we can come home. It's the time and space within the trip that we anticipate and desire. I want to be happy and healthy in 2008 and all the side trips I have to make to get there, are welcome layovers.
It's not too late to pick your own health goals for this year. Choose one or two of your own and keep it simple and make it fun.
My dinners haven't changed much from what I mentioned in my Eat Local Challenge list, and I still eat whatever appeals to me when I have dinner out. I'm not on a diet, I'm not a vegetarian, vegan or raw foodie. I'm just a woman who does yoga and tries to eat in a manner that makes her happy. I eat well (by my own standards) 75-80% of the time; no absolute restrictions, no guilt. I remind myself everyday to take it easy and keep it delightful.
My yoga practice has been going well and I'm grateful for, and have relied upon, the abridged version of the Mother Sequence. Many people around the world, with a variety of ailments, have seen relief just by doing the sequence and eating,as I try to, for 21 days. So my thoughts are, "Why not do it all the time, or at least for a large percentage of the time?" I've also decided that as much as possible, I don't want to say "no" to the entire sequence, nor to the time I wish to spend with certain people in my life. That is why I'm now going to get up earlier and practice in the hours when no one would ask me to join them to have fun (5am). Tuesdays are an exception, I meet with a group of happy people at 7am to practice the Mother Sequence!
I started off just wanting a regular yoga sequence and to eat better, but I can already see that March is going to be all about order and organization. In yoga, it's not the final pose that makes a difference in your body or life, but the work and awareness it takes to get you there. We don't make roundtrip travel plans just so that we can come home. It's the time and space within the trip that we anticipate and desire. I want to be happy and healthy in 2008 and all the side trips I have to make to get there, are welcome layovers.
It's not too late to pick your own health goals for this year. Choose one or two of your own and keep it simple and make it fun.
More on the subject:
4 Simple Steps to Start the Exercise Habit
Motivate Yourself the Jerry Seinfeld Way
Picture: Mystical Quill