Good morning,

Today I started practicing yoga again.  It has been almost a year since I last practiced.  I have missed it.  I am starting very slowly, very simple easy poses.  I want to make it part of my morning routine and here is why....

The funny thing about yoga for me is what goes through my head when I am practicing.

Backgroud:

Life has been VERY crazy with me.  My husband just returned from Iraq a couple of weeks ago.  My mother-in-law broke her elbow while staying with us and is staying in the house until they can schedule her 2nd surgery (her case is complicated by diabetes).  My sister left her fiance and moved into our house only to reconsile (where is that spellchecker, I know I put it someplace safe, grin), I am happy for her if it makes her happy.  And I have had to go back into the office after a nice period of about 4 years of telecommuting.

Needless to say, I have been dealing with a lot of change.  And what does this have to do with yoga?  Stress, strength, and balance.

As I started practice this morning, I could feel the calming effect just in doing the mountain pose.  I moved into some very simple floor poses.  I want to start slowly and I don't have a lot of time yet to dedicate.  I got the series from the Yoga Journal's special keepsake magazine in the July/August 2005 issue.  No music, no special clothes, no special effort to get to class (though I do LOVE going to class and highly recommend it).  Just breathing and posing.

Result:

I started thinking healing thoughts.  Kind thoughts about my body.  Kind thoughts about treating myself with care (a deeper thought for me than treating myself with respect).  It set me in a positive direction.  I also had thoughts of "you know, I can do this.  This I can keep in my schedule.  It is so simple.  It doesn't take that much time.  I wonder what kind of results I will get by keeping this going?" 

Ah, ending with wonder.  Isn't that great?

Take care,

Terrah