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February 29, 2016

Every December, I sign up for something out of my ordinary at INSIGHT LA (https://www.insightla.org). They host an abundance of workshops, classes, lectures, drop in meditation sessions, and retreats led by the cutting edge teachers of Mindfulness. This December 25, I found a 5 day retreat led by Trudy Goodman, whom I have only heard speak, and in a swipe of uncharacteristic credit card confidence, gifted it to myself.

I had nearly forgotten about it until last week when working on the family schedule for the month of March. Yikes. Seems it is next week. No way to get out of it now.I am a big believer of saying YES to things, and an equal fan of return policies. Of course, I don’t have to go, but being so few days away, I can’t understand why I wouldn’t go. I have able and willing friends and family to pitch in where needed, and the kids sure know how to order pizza in a pinch.

So in preparation for this retreat, I decided to do a shorter than my normal 21 day cleanse. I started last week, just to see… I had been feeling so sluggish, so attached to this drink or that food to get me through the landmarks of my day. The results were immediate. I started Dr. Alejandro Junger’s Clean program, (yup, the one Gwyneth helped make famous), and my energy immediately soared. Well, at least until all the kids got sick, now a bit less revved up to be honest. But the other piece, the chasing of the next “please fill me up thing” has mostly disappeared. I get hungry to be sure, ravenously so sometimes, but knowledge rather than fear seems to fill the waiting time. No matter how mindful I become, there is always still a piece that feels in wait. Waiting for the better, the fun-er, the more fulfilling thing to come around. I think that is also why I am drawn to the PRACTICE of yoga: it is never over, never accomplished, there is always a new pose to learn or breath to deepen, or aversion to be tackled. The actor side of me is often driven by a thirst for a project, but usually a project has a finite life span.We are restless creatures with little control sometimes, and great, big minds hungry to create.This dichotomy creates a lot of WANT. And as we all know, want left unchecked leads us chasing the illusion of outside abundance down the colorful rabbit hole rather than enjoy the project we already are.

I am smart enough about myself to know I will most likely drink a cup of coffee again. I will partake in birthday cake and kiddish wine, I might go overboard with enjoyment again over a great meal with friends, or even popcorn at a movie. But this cleanse, or any other really, gives me the opportunity to check in. What really does feel good and why? When Am I making choices simply because they help me avoid something? Then at least if I do choose that route, I know I am choosing it rather than it choosing me.

I have attached Junger’s website at the bottom of this post, along with local nutritionist and cleanse expert Elisa Goodman. I hope this week will find you too in the driver’s seat, on and off your mats.

We will meet as scheduled, MONDAY @ 8:30 am and if you RSVP in advance and we can get at least a group of 4, I am happy to offer this WENDESDAY at 9 am as well.

In gratitude,

Michelle

http://www.cleanprogram.com/ourteam

https://elissagoodman.com,

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