in less than two weeks, i begin om yoga teacher training with cyndi lee. i am excited and scared. i am ready and so not ready. i've done my pre-training reading (twice), gathered notebooks, index cards, pens and pencils (i LOVE this bookish-girl part), and maintained a regular asana practice. i've organized my calendar for the next six months; with increased out-of-town work hours, daily asana practice and weekend trainings, it's going to be full.
this morning i spent some time thinking about how else i can be more ready, how i can prepare in advance for the inevitable challenges that will arise. i just kept coming back to the same questions: what are the ways you can take extra care of yourself? what things do you need to nourish and nurture your body and your soul? it turns out, i already do and have these things. i just need to be more intentional about using them the next six months.
for the soul
i chose a guiding word for this journey: trust. i know that self-doubt is going to creep in and i have to remember that i can trust my body, my mind, my teacher and my sangha. i pulled three other art of attention cards (pictured above) in addition to trust that i know will support and motivate me:
- see: see your surroundings and lessons as blessings.
- intuition: your intuition holds ancient wisdom, trust it.
- awaken: awaken to another possibility
i am creating a little practice altar for meditation each morning before training. here there is a little blue tiny buddha to remind me to have fun, ganesha to clear the path, a wood lotus to represent community, aqua aura quartz for clarity and spirit, and my little "be" ceramic stone. to further remind me to just show up as i am that day, i will include flowers or greenery from my yard, whatever and however it is on that particular day of the year.
for the body
i need to stay well and capable the next six months. not a simple task with winter colds bouncing about and lots of travelling. in addition to my regular winter wellness support, i am adding or increasing the following:
- bone broth (upper right corner) is kind of the perfect food, especially when you need something powerful but light so you don't have a tummy full of food during practice. i do like to make my own at home, but i know the time involved is going to be an issue. i've been testing packaged bone broth for the past few months and the winner is from bone broth company. i have a feeling a hot cup of bone broth in the morning and afternoon during training is going to save me.
- hot water with raw honey, lemon and thin slices of ginger.
- golden milk (lower left corner) every night before bed. the turmeric softens and eases body tension and the magnesium promotes deep and restorative rest.
- i am most worried about my lower back. i've got a wee bit of a pinch on my sciatic nerve that flares up every once in a while. in addition to a regular practice of asana specifically for my lower back, i've stocked up on arnica cream and made up a roller ball of doterra deep blue and almond oil.
- hot baths with sea salt, epsom salt, baking soda and ginger.
- maybe a massage. or two. or ten.
i know i can't prepare for every single thing that will pop up and threaten to grow my resistance, but i also know what when i don't take care of myself is when resistance has its tightest grip on me. these little things give me a fighting chance to make it through with grace and resolve.
i'll keep you posted friends.
