Right now, I’m not just dealing with the madness and uncertainty that is Covid-19… but I’m also preparing for a cross country move sometime in the coming weeks, with everything that moving entails – house hunting, packing, fulfilling fall wedding obligations during my moving weeks, etc. etc.
When Covid madness first descended on our nation, I tumbled deep into depression, and only in mid-May did I face my situation and acknowledge that staying healthy and maintaining a regular exercise regime – regardless of my current situation – is important for overall wellness.
Cultivating a sound mind and body amidst the whirlwind of life’s busiest seasons isn’t always easy to do. But the tools that I am holding on to like a life saver in a storm is yoga and meditation. For me meditation is a practice to get rid of useless junk cluttering my mind, and gentle yoga (I’m doing ultra beginning yoga at this point!) is useful to root out tension in my body.
I understand that as we get closer to moving, it’s only going to get crazier. So here are the basics I am going to stick to moving forward.
Any Time, Any Place, Any Outfit.
You can sit and breathe anywhere. You don’t have to be in your best yoga outfit sitting on your yoga mat to do it. Whether it is taking a couple of minutes first thing in the morning, while driving, in the shower, before bed, anytime and any place, I will find a quiet moment in the day to indulge in gentle stretches and calming breaths.
Focus on Conscious Breathing.
That’s all meditation is really, paying attention to your breath. Focus on watching your breath coming in and going out and you’ll be doing a whole lot of good for your mind and body. Meditation sharpens my senses and my awareness and allows me to tap into calmness and my inner intuition and to be present NOW. It’s everything I NEED during these busy times of uncertainty.
Make it a Non-Negotiable.
I am going to view my yoga and meditation practice as a non-negotiable, along the lines of brushing my teeth and getting dressed. And while days will inevitably come along where neither of those things happen, I want a day without meditation to be about as rare as a day without brushing my teeth. I don’t want to go without my mind-stilling wellness practice at LEAST once a day. This is something that I want to do my whole life.
CURRENT STATS
Start Weight (May 15, 2020): 201 pounds
Current Weight (July 21, 2020): 179.8
Total Pounds Lost (Since May 15, 2020): 21.2
Pounds Left to Lose to Reach Goal Weight of 130 pounds: 49.8
OVERVIEW
MONTH ONE: 12.8 pounds lost
MONTH TWO: 4.4 pounds lost
MONTH THREE (still in progress): 4 pounds lost
