The past year had so many changes that it felt like keeping up with a moving train as I’m running beside it!  I started automatically waking up much earlier than usual so I decided to make use of that time.  It was as if my body needed to work it all out physically and mentally.  I just needed some relief from all the constant thoughts and the need to know what the future holds.  I used the early mornings to get quiet and listened to what I yearned for.

I turned to nourishing my body from the inside out.  I made it a morning ritual to drink some warm tea.  There’s just something so gratifying about watching the hot water flood the floating tea bag.  I found a cozy corner of my living room and lit a candle to bring in some light.  In front of me are my spiritual guides, a little statue of Mary and in front of her a little Buddha statue that I love.  It was still dark and I didn’t want any harsh light to break the silence of the early morning.  I rolled out my yoga mat so I could sit comfortably.  Then I did a guided meditation.  It felt so good to just focus on her voice keeping me focused on that present moment.

Yet I needed something more so I turned to yoga.  I’m now having a love affair with yoga!  It has been my saving grace.  When I start a pose and regulate my breath my body knows that I’m getting ready to do yoga flows.  The million thoughts need to stop!  I’m focused on hand and foot placement while balancing each pose.  Sometimes it’s just silence or soft rhythmic music in the background but sometimes I need my personal songs to get me from one pose to the next.  Sometimes I need the room to be quiet as I’m focused on the breath and other times the music needs to be loud to carry me through the routine.

Everything that I’ve been doing is about being mindful.  I’ve engaged all my senses to stay in the present moment and not focus on the past or the future.  It brings me a great sense of peace and calm.  My daily ritual feeds my body and feeds my soul.  I have such great hope and faith that what I let go of is nothing in comparison to the bright future ahead of me.

As I end yoga and open my eyes after shavasana, I look out the window and watch the sun enter the room knowing that the light always emerges.