Slamming on the Brakes (aka Slowing Down)

Image via whisperedinspirations.com

"For fast acting relief, try slowing down." -Lily Tomlin

Well, it seems to be that time of year again.  The time that comes once per season, and especially in the spring and fall, when my body tells me to slow down. And when I don't listen the first time? It gets sick to force me to slow down. Funny how the body does that, isn't it? So, after an enjoyable but jam-packed past few weeks, my body is shutting down on me, and now, I have no choice but to listen.  

This past weekend, I was in Advanced Teacher Training Friday-Sunday, and on Saturday night when it ended at 8pm, a few of us jumped in our cars and headed over to TSA to teach and participate in a 108 sun salutations event from 9-11pm. Poor planning by those of us in ATT? Yes, probably, but we were so excited and wanted to fit it all in, so we did! About halfway through the 108, my body started giving out. My back was aching from sitting all day, my on-again-off-again wrist injury started flaring up, and my recent shoulder tendonitis started getting hot. I began to feel a little dizzy from my allergies/head cold and from sheer exhaustion, so I spent the last 30 sun salutes or so doing my own thing, resting in down dog, childs, fitting in some pigeon, etc. Yes, I did slow down there (and still had a BLAST at the event!), but it may have been too late for my body...

Sunday morning I woke up feeling a little sick, and everything has gone downhill from there. I'm headed to the doctor this afternoon to nip this thing in the bud, but all of this got me thinking-- why do I do this every spring? And every fall? Each year at this time, I run my body to the ground doing things I love, working, and packing my schedule chock-full. I looked back to this time last year, and found the evidence in a blog post from March 31st, called "Slowing Down Amidst the Spring Frenzy." I was having these exact same urges at this time last year (!!!). So when will I learn my lesson? I hope sooner, rather than later, and am going to work very hard this week to take care of my body. 

---

Image via slowdownnow.org

Do you, too, suffer from spring overexertion? Do you allow the excitement of springtime to push you to overcommit--even if you want to do everything on your schedule--and in turn, pay the price physically? 
If so, put your foot down NOW. Schedule a "me" day, or a staycation, and make some time to take care of yourself and relax. 

Need a little help figuring out how to do this? Take a look at the thought experiment below, from the article "How to Slow Down Now (Please Read Slowly)" by Christopher Richards: 

Try this thought experiment. If you took tomorrow off and spent it by yourself, what would your day be like? How would you feel? For this experiment you’ll do nothing of practical value. You won’t use it to get things done. Just thinking about your day, what will the early morning be like? Where will you be at mid-day? Can you describe the place you imagine yourself to be? How do you anticipate your feeling at being alone?

And then, if you can, take a day off and do these things. Write down everything that came to your mind during this thought experiment, and really do them. Don't try to get anything done--this isn't a catch-up day, it's a day just for YOU.  I'm planning on taking a staycation this coming Saturday, and I hope you'll join me. 

Because really, what's the point of life if you can't enjoy it? 

Namaste,
Mary Catherine

---