Mysore Week Three: Standing in Change

I'm on week three of my daily Mysore practice. What have I noticed so far? How am I doing?

Yesterday, I officially made it through the Ashtanga / Mysore standing poses. Although, the power yoga teacher in me knows there are plenty of ways to warm up and integrate movement into my body, I've actually been able to feel my body come alive through the sun salutations, breaking up my body's morning stiffness, going a bit deeper with each forward fold. You warm and open the front and back lines of the body with every full body stretches. You stretch and strengthen your legs and arms--all the big muscles, all the little ones.

Generally speaking, I feel more awake, more energized, on days I've practiced than otherwise. Today is not one of those days. I've been sleepy all day. In fact, I even broke down and had coffee (half-caff) for the first time in months. Oops.

It's funny how even as your body under goes changes, the mind can stand still. Or at least hesitate in changing... Maybe, that's why I've been so sleepy.

Day 2 of Daily Gratitude: Morning Coffee

Maybe this makes me an addict, but I'm grateful for that part of my morning routine that simultaneously helps me wake and prep for the day, and puts off headaches (definitely an addict).

Coming soon to a Sandying post near you, "Kicking the Coffee Addiction." It is probably time to give it up again, but I'm grateful for the simplicity of the routine. Every morning, I get up, turn the coffee maker on and do the dishes while I'm waiting for my cup of joe. Doing the dishes that are left over from the previous day, or from my roommates since I went to sleep, is my time. It's almost meditative. Because there's no real thinking involved, I can clear my head by concentrating on the physical task at hand, and maybe begin to clear my day.

Do you have something like that? Something you do every day that allows you to clear your head and refocus on and plan for the bigger tasks? Oh, right. There is yoga. :-) ...We'll have to call this my caffiene asana.

What are you grateful for?