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Mardi Gras

Tuesday, February 25, 2020,
Today is Mardi Gras.

I was born and raised in St. Louis Missouri.  For any readers who don't know, St. Louis was founded by French fur-traders back in the day (1700s I believe).  Modern day St. Louis has large German, Italian, Irish, and many other genealogies but, due to the city's French beginnings, we have the 2nd largest Mardi Gras celebration; 2nd only to New Orleans.

I did not personally attend the Mardi Gras festivals this past weekend, but I do observe the patterns of Mardi Gras preceding Lent.  I enjoy the thought of a day set aside to party, eat, drink, before entering a period of reflection, abstinence, and self-reflection.

As far as my practice is concerned, I will openly say that my mat has brought me closer to God, and closer to my Religion (Roman Catholic).  I'm not sure if other Yogi feel this way but, for me, this time on my mat is a daily "house keeping" for my heart, mind, soul, body,.....the whole schmear.

Physically, as I type this, it's 5:34AM; a tad later than I like to start.  I woke at my usual 4:25AM yesterday but, for whatever reason did not go to my mat to start my day.

Enough typing....time to pray and meditate and warm up before beginning......

Tuesday, February 25, 2020 (Part II),
It's 6:43AM as I type this, and I've just come out of Savasana.

I went through an abbreviated practice this morning.  I began with my standard meditation, prayer and physcial warmups before going into Sun Salutes A and B, Padangusthasana and Padahasthasana, and a closing sequence.  All in all, it's an hour+ on my mat, but not a full practice.

Even thought it's been 3+ weeks since I contracted some sort of stomach virus/bacterial infection, I'm still not quite back to normal; with both my eating habits, and my digestion.  I'm taking everything nice and easy because of that.  I ran for the first time in a month this past Sunday and, while it felt great to run again, I could feel little parts of my body, that've atrophied, protesting the run with each step.  My yoga practice is about the same, I'm afraid to say.

Feeling proud of what I've done this morning.

Time to shower up and enter the day.

Namaste



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