As life is a journey so I am on a journey of a smaller kind. As there are bridges that carry us across a river or a chasm, so some Yoga practices are like bridges, they carry us from one part of life to another. Some chasms are huge, like relationship break up or an illness. Others are small like the holiday period we are in at this moment.
Like everyone I welcome the change of routine the holidays bring. But at this time when celebration of spirit seems to be the focus, the loss of my sadhana - my spiritual practice - is a loss I don't enjoy. An unplesant hole forms in my being, that space my regular sadhana nourishes, feels empty.
As the holidays is a time of feasting, so my holiday sadhana needs to be at least a mini feast or in my case a moveable one. I move through this holiday season from my family through airports, planes and time zones to more family in another country. All of that is a challenge to my soul and pysche.
I decided at first just to relax. At least 20 minutes of Yoga relaxation carried me through Xmas, 3 airports and 2 airflights kept me surprisingly calm and brought me a good sleep on a plane flight that is normally difficult. It has kept me happily connected to the centre of my awareness and a sense of soul nourishment.
Now I find I need movement to ground me in my new time zone, this present moment. On the phone (on which I write this blog as well) I list a morning practice. Sometimes I haven't time to do it all, but I do as much as travel will allow. It brings me to this moment, that the transience of travel underlines as the only moment we truely have.
So for your interest here's my present sadhana. It may serve you too.
Yoga relaxation focusing on Yoga breathing - 5 mins.
Pawanmuktasana (joint rotations) - 5 mins.
Danda kriyas, at least 3.
Standing forward bend - monkey paws rocking.
Trikonasana.
Downward dog drop to upward dog.
Simple seated spinal twist.
Lizard posture.
Rolling to shoulderstand.
Moola bandha.
Seated pranayama - Ujjayi breathing, then centreing awareness on the present moment.
A happy and wondrous New Year to all my friends,
Much love, Wendy.
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