Middle of the Day Restorative Yoga Practice

Discussion of physical aspects of yoga (on and off the mat)
Today I was filled with grief and anxiety, having taken in the pictures of India and Palestine and Iran and New York and Italy and for-profit prisons in the US and cages of refugees at the border and the over-burdened and under-supported health care workers and and and. And being out walking is strange.
First, I counted my blessings. Then because I know what helps me, I did it:
I sat myself down and did pranayama and meditation, made healthy simple meals, worked with focus all day, gave more money to those out helping and trying to change things for the better, spent some time cleaning and gardening, and soon will return to practicing, putting aside the influx of information for the remaining hours before bed.
Blessings to all of you.

I’ve been going out just at full light, before even most of the workers, to be safe and actually practice physical distancing.
I am realizing just how dependent I am on walkabout, and this next phase is requiring me to find other ways to soothe spirit and best exercise for my body.
I’m blessed to have internal stairs. I’ve been going up and down them a lot.

Found yesterday. Today, I managed to stay inside working.

I feel compelled to make clear that I have avoided going to the tidal basin. All the blossoms I have visited have been in my neighborhood at times when few enough were outside that I could maintain full social distancing.
The continuing disregard for the need to social distance–whether out of willful selfishness or ignorance or both is truly alarming.

This morning Maitri and I participated in Quaker silent worship with Friends Meeting of Washington via Zoom. I have friends offering for the first time, or expanding their offerings through various on-line platforms, of both meditation and asana practices.
For those of us able to do so, it is critical to stay home to slow contagion and alleviate burden on our already stressed by poor and inequitable policies health care system. It is also critical to reach out to elected officials and into our own means to help others be able to stay home and get any needed care.
What capacities for adaptability and generosity might we find in this situation?
