Monday, November 5, 2012
Woke up this morning and warmed my sesame oil infused with lavendar and began the long strokes of the abyanga massage. Paused and took some long deep breaths. Drank my digestive tea with ghee, made my kitchari for the day and rushed off to teach yoga to fourth graders. I was able to pause many times this morning since I woke up early. Somehow once the oil was rinsed off in a hot shower my day started moving more quickly. I was running late and needed to be out the door.
Even so, I thoroughly enjoed the moment of massaging oil into my body and the 20 minutes of waiting before I could rinse it off. Each of my days is incredibly full with little time to pause. This cleanse always reminds me to check in with myself and see if there is anything I can do differently. Because there are no substances to ingest to dull the emotions which arise, I am left to simply notice them, notice myself, and be with them.
Sometimes it feels like there is nothing that a smoothie from Cafe Gratitude can't solve, or a soy chai latte, or a piece of salted dark chocolate. Oh how my mind is craving. The teaching that I have learned over and over from my yoga practice is "no craving; no aversion." Of course, as soon as the cleanse begins I notice how much I crave for these things, because I have eliminated them.
Not only does this cleanse give me a chance to recognize the ingestible things I crave, but also the desire to be happy, satiated and energized. This is the way I feel most comfortable in my body.
I feel good and free and clear today. For now I am able to pay attention to the craving and let it pass without much effort. For now I am able to enjoy the way my body feels without sugar, dairy, meat, alcohol, caffeine, and processed foods. For now I am able to honor the sadness or anger that emerges from deep down.
For now I am at peace.
Om Shanti.
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