The Body Temple

 "How's the body temple?" is a phrase I use from time to time to check in with myself about how I am feeling and if I am treating my physical self well. You see, I have to confess that there are times when I stay up too late, I drink too much wine, or I suddenly have a craving for some ridiculous junk food and move way past the point of any reasonable serving or portion size. There have been so many times when I have taken the gift of my physical body for granted and never really thought much about my on again/off again efforts to treat my body well.

What does it mean to treat your body like a temple anyway? If a temple is defined as a holy place where people show up, then I would guess that the body temple would be a place of a bit of mystery, awe and reverence. The body would be the space that you occupy on this earth and a representation of how you show up to others. I can honestly say that I don't usually spend much if any time being "in awe" of my body. I can recall a couple of instances though. When each of my sons were born, I spent several months breastfeeding them. For whatever reason, I didn't get too caught up in awe and wonder during my actual pregnancies. I think pregnancy for me just felt more like an exhilarating ride of changing shape and hormones. But for some reason, the fact that my body was able to feed and nourish another human being was indeed full of mystery, awe, and wonder. I remember just thinking it was so cool that I could walk around and go about my day and at the same time, have perfect food at the ready anytime for my baby. Amazing.

But I didn't start this post with the idea of writing about breastfeeding, but rather to consider why it is that we are so darned distracted so much of the time and when we are, how we end up mindlessly falling into habits and behaviors that are far from healthy for us. If our bodies are to be a temple, then they need to be treated in the same way we would treat an aging and glorious cathedral. We'd be regularly dusting, sweeping, and polishing and taking time to repair items as they got damaged or worn. And lets face it, temples start to really look their best after a bit of wear and use, after they have stood the test of time and reflect years of memories and events.

So maybe we need to see our bodies as the temples that they are. Beautifully and wonderfully made. Worthy of our deep respect and care. Given daily attention and always lovingly revered. Consider all the things you do to be healthy; whether it is food, movement, rest, or daily cleansing. Pick one of them and decide to be mindful and reverent about it. Suddenly, a fresh apple seems more appealing and worthy of the body than some Cheetos. A walk outdoors makes more sense than staring at the TV.  The act of washing your face can be a gesture of care and tenderness.

Make no mistake, I am not implying that we should seek some superficial level of beauty. Instead, I hope we all can find better health and start treating ourselves with the respect and care we deserve. When we work from that place, we see beauty and strength in our bodies. We see them as the temple that they truly are. Ask yourself: How's the body temple?

Words

I wrote a devotion for my yoga classes this week about words. Whether they are words of our internal dialogue, or words that we speak out loud to others, they bear some attention. Choose today to consider your words carefully. Speak kindness and truth to yourself and to others. Notice how differently your day flows as a result!

Here's that devotion:
Proverbs 16:24 Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
   Words are important. How we speak to one another can bring comfort and connection, or fear, anger, and defensiveness. Choose your words carefully. Be kind and gracious with your words.

Don't waste your time!

Most of you that take my yoga classes know that I try to encourage a balance between work and rest, or effort and ease. In my recent posts, I have encouraged rest and finding ways to stay warm and cozy. I'm under my snuggie blanket drinking turmeric tea as I write this, so yes, it does feel good to warm up and rest on a dark and cold January evening.

Given that, it is also important to keep moving and be involved as an active participant in this thing called life. There are plenty of us out there who are struggling with health issues, dealing with grief, worrying about financial struggles, or adjusting to divorce and the loss of a marriage. The bottom line is that we are not promised a life full of happiness and ease. Sometimes things are just hard and we can do nothing but continue to put one foot in front of the other. We all know the truth: that we tend to take our good health, our relationships, our jobs and so much more for granted.

Today, use your time to care for yourself and tend to those around you. Little things DO matter, so find ways to act with love and tenderness and take time to do things well. Don't take the time that you have been given for granted. Cherish it!

Life really is a balancing act. Rest some and restore. But don't sit on the sidelines while life passes you by. Work some, rest some. Seek to find a balance each day of effort and ease.

Joy in the simple things

Hygge is a Danish word (say HUE-gah) for finding ways to be grounded and savoring the joys of simple pleasures.  As I was reading about this concept in the local paper, I thought about the harshness of our Minnesota winters and how easy it can be to fall into a pattern of complaining and grumbling about the cold. Yes, my skin is so dry that my knuckles are cut up and scraped easily and I cannot seem to put on enough lip balm or moisturizer, yet as I wrote in an earlier post, I am trying this January to re-train my brain to focus on beauty, coziness, and warmth. I am drinking and savoring hot tea or enjoying a glass of wine by the fire, I have committed to wearing a warm hat even though it is a pain, because it keeps me warm and comfortable. I am working to be deliberate about enjoying ways that I can find warmth and activities that feel soothing and calming. 

I'd love to hear from you...how are you finding small ways to enjoy the beauty of winter? Stay warm and cozy out there!

Celebrate and Savor

As many of you know, I am not a huge fan of winter and in particular, the month of January. This year,  I am trying to change my mind about winter and find ways to celebrate and enjoy the season we are in. Yup, windchill and all!
My yoga classes all begin for the new year this week. I am hoping to develop some themes for classes around finding ways to celebrate and enjoy what winter brings. Winter should be a time to seek warmth and connection, a time to cozy up with a good book and warm tea, a time to reflect and rest and dig deep. Expect some class time that is restful and restorative, along with class time that fires up our internal heat where we will play with the notion of Tapas (persistence, dedication, heat and discipline).
I can't wait to see all of you again and to welcome some new yogis to our group. May this month of January be full of warm reunions, connections, and a sense of belonging. Til then, drink something warm and soothing, light a candle, wear warm gloves and a hat, and eat good foods with some spice and heat so that you feel nourished, warmed, and satisfied. See you on the mat!

Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017!

Happy New Year to All!

Whether you are someone who sets New Year resolutions or not, you are probably finding yourself looking back on the year that has passed, and beginning to plan and look forward to the year ahead. Through it all, try to practice some mindfulness and being truly present in the day to day so that you can soak up all the abundance and beauty around you!

All of my Yoga Moodra classes start fresh next week, beginning January 9th. Class details/times are listed on the sidebar to the left.  I hope that 2017 will be a year full of presence, peace and prosperity for all. I am SO looking forward to getting back on the mat with all of you!!

If you are new to yoga and want to check out my classes or learn a bit more about me, have a look at the website for Yoga Moodra (accessible with a click of the website button at the top left of the screen). Contact me if you have specific questions about whether my classes are a good fit for your circumstances. You can pay a drop in fee of $10 to try any class. When you do, hopefully you will be thrilled and surprised and want to join all of us for a full session!

Peace, love, yoga!