Groceries

Today after school I went to HEB (not my favorite thing to do but it's becoming more bearable).  Since the start of massage school, my diet has changed so much.  Being around such food conscious and ultimately powerful people for almost 30 hours every week gave me the push I needed to start consuming better food.  During the month of May I observed my classmates eating homemade nut butters, hummus and lots and lots of avocados (a precious commodity around Texas Healing Arts Institute).  They didn't just inspire me in what they were eating but how they were talking about food. I listened as everyone talked about how certain foods effected them in very specific ways. I heard about yeast and gluten and soy and dairy. They are highly body conscious/ food knowing folks.  I admire that.

Growing up, my family was always very healthy conscious.  We ate brown rice, fresh fish, grilled chicken, salads and low fat milk products.  We rarely ate candy and certainly didn't indulge in processed food.  I didn't fully understand the necessity of eating in this way, but was definitely an apple loving kid.  Somewhere along the way, which I'm sure happens to most of us I discovered the joys of fast food, high fat dairy products, donuts and chicken wings.  All of this food can be and is certainly delicious and I would never judge anyone for eating these things, but I took a step back and realized what this was actually doing to my body and decided to make some changes.

Change is never easy and for me food is tied up with a lot of control issues.  It is one of those things like finances that we can have tangible control over...that is, if we focus enough attention on these areas and make a concerted effort.  I personally find it boring and unsatisfying overall to put so much mind energy on these things.  I'd rather stay present with the bigger picture than resonate with my exact caloric intake during the day.  So, I have to be careful not to go crazy over the details of food plans.  So, I made it easy for myself.  I decided to cut out one thing for now and see how I felt as a result doing my best not to obsess.  I cut out gluten and feel very strongly that it was a good decision for my body.

Before this summer, I ate a lot of pasta....and I mean a lot.   And cheese and pizza, chicken wings and beer. I remember once my roommate looking at my groceries and saying, "I don't know how you do it...if I ate the food you eat, I'd be sick"  I think she was referring to the pasta, cheese and milk products.  She was right.  I was just dealing with the stomach pain and perpetual bloating...when I knew that subtracting some simple things would make a big difference.

Looking in my grocery cart today I had colorful greens like Brussels sprouts, field greens and broccoli.  5 different kinds of beans for protein, tofu, rice paper, brown eggs and corn tortillas and corn pasta to satisfy my cravings for breakfast tacos and such.  I think my new relationship with food is bound to be healthier than my extremist tendencies toward heavy dieting and on the other hand, heavy consumption.  This feels like neutral territory to me. I am using this to love my body more and give myself fuel to be the best yoga teacher and massage therapist I can be.

Metta!

AND

Check out Forks Over Knives to learn more about plant based diets:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/279734

Another post about gratitude

1) Spending quality time with loved ones including friends and my boo.
2) Getting to wake up naturally on occasion when I have no morning obligations
3) Being a self-employed young lady with the ability to make my own schedule
4) Massage school is almost over and soon I will take my exam to be licensed in the state of TX
5) Jay and I are visiting family this weekend....a nice getaway I'm sure
6) All the good food I have been eating lately (most of which gluten free) including a great meal at New India on South Congress and the many tacos I've been consuming at Cherrywood Coffeehouse
7) Strength and good health
8) The art and practice of yoga
9) That I never have to wear anything besides yoga clothes ever (except maybe to look nice on occasion)
10) Having so much love around me all the time that I will do my best not to take for granted

Gratitude

Everyday last summer, I wrote a gratitude list in my journal of all the things I felt grateful for that day.  I would do it first thing in the morning, the minute I woke up.  Even if the thing I felt grateful for was my bed or sleep or something deeper than that, I wrote it down.

This summer, I have been so so so so busy!  Every single day, it seems that I have scheduled myself down to the second with things to do, classes to teach, private students, massage internship appointments and have forgotten to set aside some down time simply to feel grateful.

Today, I got the chance to sit in stillness and beautiful things started happening.  I woke up naturally for the first time in a while (usually it is to the sound of my horribly annoying alarm clock), then I strolled into the kitchen and made breakfast (tofu sauteed with onions, pinto beans, and broccoli with corn tortillas, avocado and Mexican Salsa.) and coffee (still refuse to give it up...but I'm being gentler on myself with that one).

I sat at the table and read my horoscope for the month.  Susan Miller of Astrology Zone informed me that this month is bound to be full of opportunity, and now that Mercury is no longer in Retrograde, I don't have to worry about the strings of energy pulling at me all day long.  Things will flow with ease in the coming weeks and it won't be as much of a struggle.  Good news!  Last month was difficult in terms of communication and also with my efforts to want control.  It's time to let go now.

After reading my horoscope I went to Dharma Yoga for their 9:30 All Levels class.  It was so powerful, beautiful and exactly what I needed...as it usually is.  The teacher, Denise, was incredible.  I resist new teachers sometimes because of my own karma I guess, but it was so worth it to expand my horizons.  She asked us to envision someone or something we felt grateful for and hold them/it close to us during practice.  She told us to see them as an angel.  Doing this exercise really helped in some of the more difficult poses (and there were several).

Then, I went to Acupuncture.  I realized I had not gotten a treatment since November!  It was really lovely.  Laura Matthews at Neighborhood Acupuncture Project is the best!  When she felt my pulse, she told me that my Liver energy was stagnant.  I asked her what she meant and she told me that it could either be that my future goals were not being realized or that I was trying to control other people....yes.  Correct again.  She gave me some herbs to balance this out. 

Then I got a Thai massage.  Oh man.  That stuff is incredibly powerful. I need/want more of that in my life...maybe to learn it even!!

When it came time for me to teach Yin Yoga that night, I felt so full and grateful that I had acted so kindly toward myself the entire day. 

Here's to more days off/days where I treat myself really really well