Yoga Journey #44

Twenty Minutes and Cheese

I’m alone at home for the next three weeks so I figured it would be the perfect time to focus on a couple of things. Working towards practicing on a regular basis again and adopting a plant based whole food diet.

I’ve been gradually getting on my mat over the last month as I started with one sun salutation one day. The next day I did two and then I took a day off phew – ha. To be honest it’s been difficult; it’s been a really long time since any kind of anything. I kinda had to push myself more than normal. It was more about doubt weather I can even do this anymore and do I even want to.

The answer on the second question is a definite yes. I love my practice and this morning I remembered why. I only did twenty minuets but wow I did twenty minuets – most I’ve done in over six months. It felt great I felt great. This morning was one of those practices that the physical requirements were outweighed by how my breath made me feel. First time in a long time my breath took me away. I felt really good.

And after todays practice result I’ve answered the first question; yes I can do this. There was lots of doubt about that and I doubt I’ll get back to where I was before, but ya never know. I have surprised myself and it took a long time to do that. I feel happy, good, and a little more flexible – ha.

But things have changed. I don’t get up at 5:00am and hit the mat at 6:00am anymore. It’s more like I get up at 6:30ish. Make some coffee, read the local paper, relax, and enjoy those moments. I now get on my mat around nine ish and I think the coffee before practice helps. I still wait an hour after my last coffee though – don’t want to puke. Sorry for that visual.

The thing I’m relearning is how the Ashtanga sequence works so well. It’s gradual and I’m following the asanas as prescribed. My flexibility and strength are slowly returning – it’s an uplifting feeling – it’s like I’m not done yet. I can tell you I feel good just to progress – it doesn’t take much these days.

And the second part of this three week experiment; going vegan or a better term for me would be plant based whole food is something I’ve been thinking about for a while. I’ve been a vegetarian or again a better term would be pescatarian for about fifteen years. I eat fish, eggs, and cheese. Cheese is on my favourite food – pizza. How will I survive without pizza – ha. I’ve had this cookbook for years called This Cheese Is Nuts and never employed it. I think it’s going to be working overtime.

Most times when I sign off my posts I say be safe and occasionally I will add Ahimsa. Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word meaning not to cause harm or non-violence. This means, as I interpret it to mean, all life including my own.

It’s a word I learned because of yoga and is tied to that experience. I can remember years ago at yoga class a spider walked onto someone’s mat. And the class basically stopped as the teacher safely maneuvered it under class. Picked it up opened up the duel doors and placed it outside. Back then I would of squished it and not thought a second about it. Today I would not even bother to move it unless it was in my way. I’d just blow it off my mat and let it go on it’s way.

Being plant based (you could say Ahimsa here) is part of this yoga journey but it’s not the impetus for this decision. I think it will be healthier for me to eat this way. There’s a little part of me that hopes some of my MS symptoms will fade away because of this. It’s kind of a last hope but I remain pragmatic.

I hope this three week experiment works out and becomes a beneficial lifestyle change. I don’t see why it won’t.

Be safe
Ahimsa