What are we yogis supposed to do in this time of discomfort and perhaps difficult adjustments? Probably just what we have been doing. Keeping up yogic practices: asanas, pranayama, meditation, relaxation.
I hoard yoga sequences. When I write out a plan for teaching, I will use it for my own practice and for my classes over the week. But I seldom throw these programs out. I save my designs, and I keep other teachers', too. If I do a class in San Francisco or Byron Bay or even with local teachers, I will ask for that teacher's written plan.
After almost four decades of yoga practice and teaching, I have filled seven lever arch files. Each of these holds 500 A4 pages. In addition, I have a box of programs still to be filed which I haven't been able to face as yet. There's just one more area of hoarding. These are the folders from my retreat and workshop plans I've kept for years.
On questionnaires that ask for me for my occupation, I write in 'semi-retired'. That's shorthand to describe that I work sometimes. At other times, I participate in various kinds of recreation, such as singing or tennis. I study a bit, and I also volunteer in the community in Palliative Care.
Though semi-retired, I haven't cut back on my yoga practice. That's just as well as I'm busier than I ever was when I worked full-time. This seems to be a common feature of those who profess to being semi-retired.
From time to time, I wear myself out completely.
Does anyone need to be told that we are well into the cold and flu season?
We are approaching the shortest day of the year. But we're fooling ourselves if we don't see that the Aussie winter is just beginning to settle in.
As smart yogis, we can bunker down, take care and look after our immune systems so as not to succumb to colds and flues.
For me, that points to doing my best to stay cool when I do my yoga practice. And I use yoga tools, like meditation, pranayama, relaxation and passive yoga poses, to cool my body and brain.
There's a certain morning ritual that I have performed ever since I was 16 years old. This is the age when coffee and I started our long and friendly relationship.
Hot Weather Yoga: Do Flop-asanas!
In the U.S., the stifling stickiness of the hot weather season is undeniably upon us so we yoga practitioners need to adapt to this climate. It's not as humid here in Tucson as in the buildup to The Wet of Australia's tropical north, but this weather can still be mind-numbing and body-immobilising.