For many of us Discipline is a word that makes us shiver. It leaves us with memories of fear and dread when we failed to adhere to The Rules. Often times we received consequences harsher than the crimes committed, and so we continued to rebel and add to the waxy ball of frustration that hung over us. Years of such repeated unconscious responses, can leave us feeling separate from our deepest desires, as well as separate from our true identity. For the sake of this diary, Discipline means "an activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training" (Dictionary.com) With continued commitment to our discipline, we gain a sense of control and freedom that was not previously available to us. We gain understanding and mastery of our mind, body and soul. If we have done the ground work ahead of time, it is almost always easier to lighten up than it is to push harder. WIth discipline, we have greater endurance, strength and flexibility; we have the tools to achieve our highest potential; we have the capacity to be truly Autonomous.
Discipline begins when you wake in the morning and stays with you until you go to sleep; it is your daily practice. What follows is my daily Discipline. Feel free to play along and try things on for size . Also feel free to reject and question what feels off. What I am sharing is an offering.
*** Waking Up/Going to Sleep- Its important to start the day with a clear head and body. I usually spend at least 15 minutes in bed awake noodling around, getting my stretch on. I do 30 Empowerment Breaths. I place my hands on my abdomen. I inhale through the nose and exhale through pursed lips. This has a very calming effect while simultaneously energizing the body from the root up. I like to set an intention for the day. At Night, I repeat 30 Conscious breaths, and I listen to whatever it is my body and mind have to say without monitoring it or telling it what to do. i like to focus on giving appreciations until I nod.
***Morning and Evening Practice- I have my yoga mat right next to my bed facing the mirror. This leaves little room for distraction to wiggle its way between me and my goals. A recent visit to the library produced 2 wonderful dvds that each have Am and Pm work outs. ( I Highly recommend checking out your library for awesome and inspiring materials!) Each work out is 25 minutes. I have a program for gentle yoga and also one for Pilates. I also checked out a dvd on healthy knees that has a fabulous 7 minute work out. Upon completing this series of exercises, I have worked out a total of 57 min in the morning and 57 min at night. And sometimes I don't have time to do all three segments so I do what I can and that feels good too.
*** Eating-- Especially now with the onset of Winter, it feels doubly important to begin the day by putting the right ingredients into the body. Too much sugar or complex carbohydrates can make the body fatigued and ready for sleep again. Too much caffeine can make us jittery and prone to loosing our balance. I highly recommend warming up the body from the inside with a cup of water boiled and a slice of lemon. A sprinkle of cayenne can be a nice addition as can a slice of fresh ginger if one's immunity feels under attack. As always sip slowly and consciously. Breathe in the nourishment. I recommend eating a small breakfast. I prefer making a smoothie when it is warm out or having a handful of nuts and dried fruit. When I have big day ahead I like to enjoy a small bowl of cream of buckwheat (1/4 cup makes enough to serve 2!) dressed with the perfect seasonings and served with handmade milk. For lunch and dinner I like to have a bowl of soup or salad. I like to keep a piece of fruit in my purse, preferably a clementine because it is so incredibly satiating after a good work out and its skin protects you and the contents of your bag from making a mess. I am even known to carry sweet potatoes in my bag for a late afternoon snack. I make sure to drink plenty of water through out the day.
***Hygiene- Whoever said hygiene isn't important is someone not to be kissed ;-) I like to start my day with fresh breath. I like to gargle salt water and follow with a good teeth brushing. I like Weleda's natural tooth pastes that are flouride-free. But more important than the paste is the brushing technique. Make sure to brush and massage the gums where plaque builds up. Also make sure to scrape your tongue. Follow up with a good flossing, and if you find your gums are bleeding, don't fret, gargle again with salt and water. Now we are just getting started with the salt and water. If you haven't heard about the Neti Pot, its time that you have. The Neti Pot is a great way to strengthen the health of your sinuses and nasal passageways. The Neti pot is a small pot with a spout. You fill it up with warm water and add a tea spoon of salt. Leaning over the sink you pour the spout into one nostril and allow the water to run out of the opposite nostril. Repeat on the opposite side. THis may be challenging at first; but with practice it will get easier.
*** Self-Practice- In spite of how much time i spend in my body, I can't seem to get enough. I am grateful to the 24 hour Fitness facility in Hasbrouk Heights that is equipped with an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, steam room and sauna. I like to spend a few minutes in the steam room laying out in deep meditation beforehand. I like to spray my body with homemade spray of rose water and eucalyptus oils and tune into to my breathing. I like to spend at least 40 minutes in the water swimming laps without breaking. I This is my power up time! Time to Streamline and stretch every muscle in my body and receive the ultimate physical high. Time to play 1:1 with water and my breath. I then like to spend a few minutes seeing the free masseuse available to those on a tight budget: The Jet streams in the hot tub. Place desired areas of the body directly on the streams to break up anything that is lingering in the muscles and joints. Lay back and enjoy! Afterwards I make my way into the sauna and do restorative yoga until i am fully heated up and relaxed. I like to do a few rounds, preferably 4 interspersed with a cold water rinse . I follow up with a solid shower and Lady's tune-up afterwards in the locker room.
Wherever you are beginning from, acknowledge it as your starting point and know that there is room to grow and blossom. A healthy and compassionate attitude towards yourself is an important gift to give yourself. You can either be your worst enemy or your best friend. The way you treat yourself and talk to yourself will determine the most critical relationship you will have the rest of your life, in fact your relationship with yourself is the only relationship you are guaranteed to have and carry while on this planet, so why not make nice with the body and voice reflected back to you in the mirror? With more practice comes greater discipline, and with more discipline comes greater results.
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