poco a poco

In Spanish there's a phrase - "poco a poco", which translates to "little by little" or step by step. As we approach the holiday weekend and get a chance to slow down, I think it's a great time to take a closer look at the pattern of our lives.

It could be said that many of our errors, failures, and disappointments come from expecting too much, from doing too much, or trying to force things to go our way. It happens in society, government, and business, but also in the small scope of our lives. When we expect too much from life, find ourselves exhausted, or make decisions we later regret, we call it stress, but beneath that is our pushing ourselves and trying to always be in control.In yoga, the term "Isvara pranidhana" refers to the process of letting go of that desire, of surrending all to a greater power.

So over this long weekend of beautiful weather, outdoor events, and family time, let your independence rise to the state of taking everything in stride, and allowing yourself to do everything "poco a poco" - one small step at a time.

tea time

Tea has been quite the saviour for me as I try to maintain a yogic lifestyle and, well lets be honest, not eat too much. I have quite a variable schedule - some days I get up at quarter to 6 and others I start my workday at noon. I finish working at any time from 7 on an early day to 10 or 11 on a late night.

This has made developing an "eating schedule" a bit difficult. Nutritionists and exercisers usually recommend 4-6 small meals per day, while some yogis fast part of the day, maybe only eating one large meal at midday. I think most of us can control what we eat during the main part of the day, or at least keep track. Whether we bring lunch to work, eat at home, or go to a restaurant with friends, we can account for what we've consumed and counted it as a meal.

However, when at home, it's not so simple. Does that piece of fruit, cup or two of juice, bag of chips, or sandwich (or two) count as a "meal"? Or maybe a snack? Or possibly half a snack? And then when can we eat the other half?

This is when tea comes in handy. My fiance and I must have at least 10 boxes of tea stored in the cupboard, ready to suit every mood, time, and taste. Whether it's a morning peppermint or green, a cleansing blend of berry or rooibos, or a soothing evening tea such as chamomile or "Bedtime," the brew of the herbed bag is there to comfort and help fill an empty or wanting stomach. We have a lot of the "Yogi Teas", partially because the have little inspirational quotes on the tags and partially because the flavors are great.

While getting ready for the day or while preparing for bed, it's easy to make a cup or pot in a few minutes. The warm, tasty liquid is great when it's too late or too early to eat and you're hungry or about to get there. It is kind of an indulgence, but a sophisticated one that can help shed pounds instead of adding them. Speaking of which, I think I'll go warm the kettle.