I am sick. So what.

Today is the first Sunday morning in quite some while that I am not running out the door to take yoga. Instead, I am wrapped up in my sheets, feverishly drinking hot tea and obsessively researching the chakras and energetic anatomy (ha ha). I have acute viral rhinopharyngitis (or acute coryza) dun dun dun ... aka the common cold. Apparently, my immune system has checked out and gone to Bora Bora, because this is the 2nd time this month that I've been affected.

Common colds take about seven to ten days to resolve but can last up to three weeks, and who has that kind of time? Although I'd like to say that I've found acceptance, truthfully, I'm quite irritated with my body.  I've been doing all the "right" stuff -- hitting the sheets early, drinking vitamins, drinking sufficient amounts of water, practicing tons of yoga-asana and meditation. I even gave up my wine nights this month. I've been more attentive than ever, and yet my body seems to be retaliating more than ever. What is that about? 

Reiki and Energy Healers say that the majority of illnesses are caused by energetic and/or emotional blocks or imbalance. As much as I am trying to be lighthearted with my quest for answers, a part of me is genuinely concerned. Am I ignoring something? And on that note, am I over thinking this common cold? What about my rib popping out in Monday's class and leaving me in terrible pain for an entire week. Is that a part of it?

The fifth chakra, located in the throat, understood to relate to communication and the power of choice, has captured most of my attention. While researching this chakra in one of my favorite books, The Anatomy of the Spirit, I came across something that I had highlighted when first reading the book a few years ago:

"Sometimes the greatest act of love is to withhold judgement of another or of oneself."

I paused there and closed the book. It struck me. As hard as it can be to (genuinely) practice non-judgement towards others, I find that for me, it's 10x harder to (genuinely) practice non-judgement towards myself. Maybe today that is my yoga, that is my work: to stop badgering myself about being under the weather again.

I am sick. So what.

So here's what's on my agenda for today: Netflix and all sorts of yummy hot tea. What triggered this chain of events in my body is still unclear to me, but my body is achy and tired and sending me a message to rest. I am downshifting until I receive a signal that I am ready to pick up the pace. I imagine at some point, knowing myself, I'll get too anxious sitting around so I've prepared and made a little list of poses that I will allow myself to practice:

• Supta Baddha Konasana
• Supported Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Bridge)
• Upavistha Konasana (Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend)
• Vipariti Karani (Legs-up-the-Wall Pose) 
•  Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand).

ART by Woo

While I worked on marketing today, my beautiful friend, Woo, sat across from me and drew me in King Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana)

He used a photo I had in my archives. Even after a proper hip, back, and shoulder opening sequence, modeling this pose for more than a minute would have felt like borderline torture. Modeling this pose while working on marketing, proper openings or not, would have been 100% torture. : )

Just wanted to share his art work! Once he gets a website up, I will add that information on here. Thanks Woo.