Monday morning meditation accompanied by the rain and wind of the impending hurricane Sandy, contemplating whether or not to venture out to my usual Monday morning yoga practice with David Vendetti at South Boston Yoga. "Stay home," Spirit spoke reinforced by a powerful feeling in my gut.
But wait, I have my yoga schedule, my precious routine, my community...I answered. "Stay home and do the treadmill."
I felt calm in my decision. I was not coming from a place of fear or panic but rather one of a common sense New Englander who has weathered many storms. Yes there have been many times I would sit at home with the children on a 'no school' day waiting for the storm to hit and it was a bust feeling frustrated I had to take a day off from work. (That was before 'enlightenment'). I also remember a storm that hit mid day with a vengeance and it took my husband 2 hours to get my kids from the high school to home, normally a 10 minute drive and it took me over 2 hours to get home from work. And then there was the blizzard of '78 when I almost got stranded in Kenmore Square. My gut said stay home and so I did....
For the past year, I have not felt a need to incorporate cardio workouts into my 'exercise' plan. In December I wrote the blog post, "For Now" sharing the 'research' I had done about the cardiovascular benefits of yoga and what I felt my body needed at the time. I shared with you my dear readers how, from the time I was 5, my body was controlled by outside forces so it's taken me a long time to feel comfortable with being flexible in how I care for my body, listen to what my body needs on and off of my yoga mat and trusting in that innate wisdom.
I incoporated a 45 minute power walk on the treadmill into a yoga practice. I started out with some ball rolling
and foam rolling
followed by some cat/cow to loosen up my spine and hips.
I turned on the heater in the basement, brought down our radio and thoroughly enjoyed my 45 minutes on the treadmill. I reflected on how different my body felt from a year ago. I feel lighter, more balanced and feel greater ease and confidence in my body. I listened to what my body needed in terms of pace and time. I felt the heat build and the sweat begin to flow. I did not have a cardiac monitor which I used to be a slave to:
I have different ways to measure the 'benefits' of my practice. After my treadmill time ended, I came upstairs to my yoga mat to restore out and go into savasana.
I had to start somewhere when I began a health and fitness regimen. My first personal trainer focused on weight, heart rate, strength training and cardiovascular exercise. God bless her. She got me moving and to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon. But now I no longer need to rely on that external rigid structure and measurements to assess my health and well being.
I reflected on how different I feel mind, body and Spirit allowing myself to be flexible, listen to what is right for me and trust in the choices that I make letting go of all of those preconceived notions of should and must. I am free and fabulous feeling calm, happy and grateful in the midst of a storm sending out a powerful metta meditation on the winds of Sandy.
Savasana in the Meadow - from Songs of Freedom:Poems From a Healing Odyssey - now available on Amazon
Feisty five year old fighting for her life
deeply ingrained into the fiber of her being.
Struggle to overcome
struggle to allow Divine Love.
Discernment doesn't come easy
resisting the healing touch.
Surrender brings such freedom
easing the pain of transformation.
Tenuous trusting walking gingerly in this new world
unsure of the expansive landscape of love and light.
A knowing deep in the heart of what's right and true
daring to let go and graze in lush pastures.
The Master's Hand painted this magnificent pastoral scene
savasana in the meadow.
From my heart to yours
With total love and deepest gratitude
May all beings be happy, free and safe!
Mary
Source: http://newworldgreetings.blogspot.com/2012/10/on-flexibility-listening-and-trust-let.html
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