10/22/14 Wednesday.
I am embarking on a new challenge and I am going to share it through this blog. I am committing to juicing and yogaing (is that a word) everyday for the next 60 days. After completing the Detroit Marathon last weekend I have decided I need to try something different. Running and other high intensity activities have served me well for the last few years but I am at a place where it feels that something is missing. As a part-time yoga teacher I have determined that a personal yoga practice may be what is missing. When a teacher steps away from her own mat, everyone around her may be effected by that. Including her students. So, my number one reason for embarking on this journey is to rediscover myself. My second reason is to help my students discover themselves. The physical practice of yoga teachers how to feel your body from the inside out. How to find rest in the difficulty of pushing to your edge, How to connect the breath to movement and in turn quiet the rambling of the mind. But mentally, the physical practice of yoga teaches you take those things you find on your mat and apply them to the other areas of your life. How to be grounded in the midst of a storm. Working in the substance abuse field, raising teenagers, marriage, traffic, ex-husbands, bills, home ownership, pets, etc. all can create static in my life. Being a reactive person doesn't always work, Okay, being a reactive person rarely works. Find a base in a yoga practice not only changes your body, it changes your mind and spirit too. I took to my mat again a couple of months ago but now I am going to be exclusive with my mat. I am committing to have a daily date with my mat and my breath. This is an experiment to see what I can shake from the tree (aka: my mind). I am hoping to develop deeper physical expression in the asanas but I am also hoping to develop a more positive relationship with my body. I will be chronically this journey through this blog.
So, where does the juice piece fit in? A few weeks ago, as I was finishing my preparations for the Detroit Marathon, I did a 3 day juice cleanse to drop off those few extra pounds before I started carb loading. What happened was astonishing! Three days of juice and I felt lighter, cleaner, more focused, more energized, more mentally positive and my sugar cravings disappeared. I am now committing to learning more about juicing and replacing one meal and one snack per day with fresh juice for the next 60 days. The 3 day juice cleanse I participated in was prepared and delivered to me. Now I will learn how to do this myself to fit my life and my needs.
I do not have a weight loss or aesthetic goal for this challenge. It is a challenge to feel better from the inside out and enjoy participating in my life again, even the not so good stuff. I hope you will join me for this journey.
With all that being said, I will report that so far today I participated in Rocket Sculpt Yoga at It's Yoga and had a post workout juice. I also have a cleansing beet and grape juice prepared for this afternoon. Day 1 and so far, so good. Until tomorrow....
Namaste,
Michelle
Post-Workout Juice
1 stalk celery
1/2 cucumber
2 apples
Cleansing Beet and Grape Juice
1/2 smallish beet
1/2 largish cucumber
2 cups grapes (red for sweeter juice or green for tart juice)
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