Rest and Digest in Everyday Ramblings

The weather is absolutely gorgeous here! Of course to have blue skies and bright fall color we also have a strong cold wind but still… it is not wet, it is not overcast, it is not foggy. Ah.

I got out on the track at sunrise, hoping to make some progress in my quest for a more fit heart but it was steady as she goes. I have managed to drop my pace by about a minute over the last month.

My Fitbit had the temerity to tell me the other day out of the blue that I slept better on days I log a run.

I don’t remember asking it for its feedback…

It doesn’t know that I am on about day 28 of my 40-day Yoga Nidra practice. Even as an experienced meditator I find being flat on my back on the floor (supported with a bolster under my knees and a pillow under my head) for 25 minutes every “damn” day a challenge.

There are 8 practices in the program and I chose this one to learn and experience because it is fairly straightforward, no complicated goal setting or visualization but also because it is one of the shortest ones.

I also need to carefully choose to do it at a time that works with the cat’s regular cycle of food and sleep and play. Because otherwise they pester me. Diego plays with my hair (I suppose I could wear a hat) and Carlo jumps over me a la cow and moon.

This morning I added a blanket to the mix because it was colder than it has been and Diego plopped down on my midsection as soon as I started and stayed put the whole time. He looked very relaxed when I was done.

This is what I am noticing for sure, (how can completely relaxing for 25 minutes a day be a bad thing?) my back feels better afterwards and my digestive processes kick into high gear.

That isn’t a euphemism for say activity of the colon, I mean all the cool amazing processes that start in the stomach in terms of breaking down what one takes in as nourishment starts here.

When we are stressed they stop. Rest and digest is the opposite of Fight, Flight or Freeze. (I have always been a fan of getting out of Dodge at the drop of a hat.)

Like with meditation some days are easier than others. What I am going for here is an actual change in the type of brain waves that occur.

I was excited yesterday when I overheard one of my students telling another after class that he had gone into a really deep zone that was different than he had experienced before after we wrapped up the relaxation part of class.

So something I am learning by doing this practice on my own is transmitted out to my students. Both of the guys that were talking have young children at home and they value even that short dedicated relaxation once a week. I am happy to oblige.

Saint Joe will be out all next week. He left to fly down to LA yesterday evening. I am leaving Thursday morning for 4 days at the Oregon Coast.

This will be the first time ever that neither of us will be working for 2 days in a row. We have no backup. So I spent days drafting a note to our internal customers (about 100 people) about us being gone. We got a really heartwarming response. Both St. Joe and I were touched.

For me this is the one thing that makes my stupid job bearable. Our customers like working with us. It is a hard won gift.

First though I need to cover for him, teach my three classes in an accelerated schedule, pack and clean and plan for food and then…then…oh baby I get to spend a whole four days resting, eating wholesome yummy food and yes! Digesting.

It may not seem like much but it is what I’ve got and I plan to enjoy every minute of it that I am awake.

Last updated October 14, 2018