I am getting used, now, to new ways of eating and moving. I am even having fun with this and find some of the yoga addictive, as well as challenging. I seem to be standing taller, and straighter – so undoubtedly I MUST be. My energy is beginning to soar with some aching on the thighs – but it is a good ache. I am also enjoing a different kind of awareness of my own body.
TODAY:
- I will write in my journal: Today I will begin to explore letting go of stressful and negative aspects of my life. I will imagine a situation where I hold a serious grievance against somebody and I will say : “I release you from my sadness, my anger and my condemnation.” I will write about these situations in my journal and lay them down and then I will not PICK them up again and carry them away with me. By admitting these things to myself on paper it will be easier to let go of the negativity.
- I will meditate: I wills it comfortably and establish my breathing focus clearly on inhaling and exhaling. I wll recognise and acknowledge each moment and each breath. With each exhalation I will give myelf permission to let go of that which does not serve me well. With each inhalation I will embrace the new empty space I am creating for positive change in my life and being.
- I will do 15 minutes of yoga: I will increase the pace of my sun salutations so they challenge me. I wqillnot be concerned with the number but more with the form and the breathign and the postures.
- I will walk for an hour. I will increase the time to a full hour and up the ante a bit on the terrain and the pace.
I WILL EAT:
- ON WAKING: A glass of hot water with a squeeze of lemon.
- BREAKFAST: Blend a banana , 4oz of no fat natural yoghurt, crushed ice and a tsp of flaxseeds and sip this for breakfast.
- LUNCH: mix 100gm shredded lettuce with half a cubed mango, 1 tbs sliced almonds, 150 grms grilled chicken breast, shredded. Over this I will drizzle some of a mix of the other half of the mango, chopped finely mixed with 2 tsp olive oil, 110ml orange juice and 1 tsp balsamic vinegar.
- DINNER: Fish tacos ( using romaine lettuce) 175gm grilled white fish fillet flaked and placed in lettuce cups and topped with salsa verde. ( this makes 4 servings: Combine 1 chopped avocado with 2 cloves chopped garlic, 1 minced chili, hlf a chopped onion and a small handful of coriander leaves plus 4 tbs water and blend until smooth).
CHALLENGE: Some of the bonds we have are healthy, but many we have are the result of routine, convenience or insecurity and they may not be adding to our happiness or fulfillment. I am taking this opportunity to think out the trappings of my life ad whether or not my relationships, comittments and other circumstances are working FOR me. If there are people or any other aspects of my life that drain rather than enrich me, I will choose NOEW to let go of these people and things and situations. Letting go is a conscious choice, and now is the time for me to make that choice. artof letting go means forgiving, and while forgiveness does NOT mean condoning, this will help me grow and take control of negative emotions which may have been sabotaging the healthy changes I am making.
INDULGENCE: After my workout I will give myself a healthy and energising massage. How do i rech those hard-to-reach places? Simple. I willg rab a tennis ball and roll it along my muscles. I will lie on the floor and balance on top of the ball so I may guide it where I want it to go. Hamstrings should be rolled from hip to knee; glutes shold be rolled UPwards; and one should always roll UP the side of the spine and neck to lengthen those muscles and improve posture. For arms and legs, roll AWAY from the torso. This may not look graceful but will feel amazing.
I will remove the skin from a papaya and blend a quarter of this with quarter cup plain yoghurt and gently massage this mix into my clean face, neck upper chest and hands. I will let this set for 10 minutes and then wash away. The enzymes in papaya exfoliate rough, dull looking skin and fight free radicals. Remove a pice and use the inner side to rub all over the face to condition my skin with vitamins A and C. Save the rest for a healthy little snack!!
