Refresh

I’ve been away during the last couple of work weeks and as such, I haven’t been able to go to yoga or to synchronized swimming during the week as I usually do. Even the weekends, in fact, have been a little slower pace than I’m used to. Last weekend, I found myself creaky during Saturday morning yoga and I was sure my body was chastising me for not moving more during the work week. Likewise that Sunday, I seemed decidedly off kilter during dance class. Coordination was more than a little challenging. So it was with a little trepidation that I went into yoga this Saturday. However, my experience couldn’t been more different. I don’t know if it was lack of sleep or something else, but my brain blissfully turned off and my body just moved. It felt like butter. Rather than think discouraging thoughts at my body, I was able to listen to it and it flourished under the attention. Today during dance, I had less awkward experience, as well. I wasn’t able to shut off my brain as much as I had in yoga, but I found myself listening to the music more and when I allowed that as my point of focus, my movements were less self conscious and more fluid. Most importantly, I had fun. 

I think I benefited from throwing myself out of routine during the week. Although not exactly injured, I feel like my body healed with the slower pace and I found the pleasure, again. This week it’s back to my regularly scheduled program, but it’s good to know that there’s something to be said for switching it up, every once in awhile.

Cleanse

I’m doing a cleanse for the first time in my life. I eat fairly healthy as it is, but a few teachers at my yoga studio were doing this and I impulsively said I was in. It’s not too restrictive, just very natural. Even so, this is rather unusual for me as I don’t really believe in the need for cleanses or detoxes and I hate following rules of any kind, except my own. Especially about food.

So why do this at all? For the same reason I moved two miles from my last apartment, started wearing gold jewelry, took a writing class, started eating at my breakfast nook instead of my couch, tried a new yoga teacher and a new studio, bought leg warmers, and went to a social mixer on a school night. We all have big events or changes in our life. But between those times, we can get in ruts. We get comfortable with the same old thing. We have a tendency to roll into the groove at the center of the bed. 

My groove means spending more time alone, eating the same food, working from home, wearing my comfy pants and sweatshirt and my glasses all day, sticking to the elliptical at the gym and my bi-weekly yoga class. Such is my tendency towards it that the same old thing can make life seem a little small when it goes on for too long. It’s not that I enjoy it as much as there is great comfort in it. Drastic changes are almost easier to manage than the small shifts that can expand our daily routine. They are often overlooked as a “why bother”? Yet often, these small changes can lead into larger ones. Or just change the energy around you. So, I try to make changes, however small, whenever I feel like I’ve been in the same place a little too long.  There may be negative thinking beforehand, they are almost always for the best.

And so, I’m on this cleanse. I’ve already modified what I’ve been prescribed (again with being told what to do), but within the “rules” but it’s the break in routine and putting goodness into my body that I’m focusing on.