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- Asana, Pranayama, and Yoga Practice | Community and Family | Food for the Body | Food for the Mind (Yoga Philosophy, etc) | Meditation
Svadharma
Instead of making intentions that quite possibly are influenced by the capitalist patriarchy, I invite you to ask yourself what is your purpose, who you are, what strengths you have to serve the collective, what is your svadharma and what might nourish your living it to the fullest?
My house is clean and I made a delicious meal and I will be in bed long before midnight.

Homemade spinach fettuccine with lentil-mushroom ragu and truffled pecorino
Whether It Feels Too Soon or Not (Day Light Savings Time Is Arriving)
It still does not seem right to have daylight savings time start before the equinox. I remember it used to be the first night I cooked outside. Now it is always too cool and not quite light enough, and my morning meditation goes back to finishing before it is light. Whether it matches with the weather or my mood, though, it is here this weekend. I’ve had a much more intense work week than usual, which is resulting only partly from having been out of town for the previous week. The coming weekend promises to be very full (assuming all goes as anticipated) with teaching my own class and studying with Ross Rayburn up at Willow Street both Saturday and Sunday, trying to go out to see some friends dance Saturday night, going to the contact improv jam on Sunday, and then having dinner with neighbors.
To try and not get too off cycle by getting a socially induced equivalent of jet lag, I am starting to get ready for bed an hour early tonight and planning to get to the office before 8 tomorrow morning. Try doing the same things you would do if changing time zones. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, keep down the caffeine intake and if you really want to have caffeine, make sure you stop drinking it earlier in the day than usual; have any protein in the morning and then dine lightly on grains and vegetables in the late afternoon or early evening. Don’t eat anything heavy at night. That way you will have energy when you wake up too early and be sleepy when it is time to go to bed way before you think it is.
And most important, use the change in time as an opportunity to celebrate the respective joys of shadow and light by having extra attention brought to them whether you will it or not. It is always exciting the first night, particularly if it is warmish and bright as is in the forecast, that it stays light unnaturally late.
Do You Have A Way to Care for Yourself Come What May?
Life will be more rather than less challenging for most for the long haul. Engagement is not optional.
Do you have a ritual or routine that you can rely on to provide a personal pause for gratitude/beauty/center/calm—whichever serves best?
It might include aspects of yoga practice or it might be something else. I had a friend who, at the end of every work day, lay down on the sofa and listened to classical music to restore themself. Perhaps you dance or sing or walk or nap.
I’m spending much time in the garden, including volunteering at bigger ones, and am most at peace these days when fully engaged with the plants.
But the most reliable source of grounding and sweetness for me, whatever might be going on, is meditation. Perhaps that is because I can do it no matter my health or location; it is free, portable, and simple, whether meditating on the breath or with a mantra.
Found Exhortation
After days of self-quarantine in anticipation of a visit to the dentist for regular care, it was good to be out and about for a bit.
My temperature was 95F on the thermometer used by the receptionist. It’s usually low relative to “normal,” but still.




