“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”
“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”
“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.”
How do you wake-up in the morning?
Are you setting the tone of your day like Piglet encouraging a sense of wonder and excitement? Or are you like Winnie the Pooh: alert and curious (even it is about what you’re going to eat)?
In Ayurveda, the sister science to Yoga, our daily morning routine Dinacharya, outlines suggestions for how to begin your day from those first waking moments. My personal ritual is one that includes the following:
*Love Meditation offering myself love, giving love, receiving love
*Gratitude reflection where I say to myself at least 3 things I am most grateful for today
*I look at something beautiful
*Breath 16 times out of the right side of my nose
*I set my intention (Sankalpa) for making today the BEST day ever
*I step out of bed on my right foot
* I do some loving easeful Yoga poses (Asana) like: Malasana; Cobbler; Supine Cobbler, Half Cobbler twist; Supine Tree pose; Supine Pigeon; Supine Pigeon Twist; Big Toe Pose; Bridge with cat/cow pulsation; Core cultivation; Knees to chest (Apanasana); Side 2.
*I brush my teeth, neti pot; use my tongue scraper
*Bathe (sometimes with oil massage before known as Abhyanga)
*Drink, eat light breakfast
I wake up like Piglet. I am excited about the unfolding of my day and active in my approach to co-creating the most easeful day with the universe. I recognize that I have won the lotto by being chosen to breathe, whereas not everyone even wakes up. Losing my Father when I was 25 keeps this lesson always near me. My Papa, Enrico, was my first yoga teacher. He taught me the Yoga of Life. Yoga of Adventure. Yoga of Experiencing the world! Enrico was a pure adventurer and my Mother’s parents were serious spiritual seekers. I grew up traveling the world with my brother and parents from the time I was an infant, which filled me with wonder every day! I understood from their lessons that “wisdom begins in wonder” says Socrates.
As a teacher of yoga and as a guide for international yoga retreats with Alchemy Tours: I want to inspire in you what my family inspired in me: To see with the eyes of your heart and the mind of a beginner like everything is brand new. I want to support you to be more curious about your life. “Curiosity is the parent of attention.” Richard Whately
So today put down your left brain: stoke the intuitive curiosity of the right side of your brain and just sit in awe of the magical mystery it is to be alive. Live in wonder of your own life! Don’t forget as Jon Kabat Zinn writes, “when you love your life, your life will love you back!” Tomorrow when you wake up, remember the thoughtful encouragement of Piglet, imagine him asking you, “When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”
Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia
“He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed. – Albert Einstein
