December 6: The basic tenet of Somayog, starting where I am with what I have, happens to us all every morning with the grace of awakening from sleep or dream. This is a most wonderful opportunity to roll into the movements as practiced in the warm-up to the yoga class, Somayog Level One, as found on my product page. We are spiritual beings, no doubt, but once we awaken, if we have been graced with the necessary number of working limbs, the day stretches ahead with doing for this and that by using the body. Hello body! 

Somatic practices upon awakening, still lying in the bed, include: very gentle, relaxed and easy stretching, fingers to toes, each side separately and then left leg with right arm, right leg with left arm; toe-wiggling; rolling side to side on the tailbone; and all this before even opening the eyes. It gives a gradual, delicious entry into the body for the day. At the same time, if you can be aware of your heartbeat and find that feeling of gratitude for being given another day in this life, then you are practicing embodied spirituality. Watching how you are breathing can also do an amazing job of setting the space of the day. And all this before you need to even open your eyes and rise from the bed. After a while, the process becomes instinctual and relished. For an extra boost to your energy, once up, just stand still for one minute to practice the spinal breathing, leading into the Wakefield train move.  Intentions for the day can be breathed in and the staleness of the night's work breathed out. All of this can take as much time as you wish to give it; I guarantee this small practice, done regularly throughout life, will be of great benefit.