“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 did you wake up today? 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 of Yoga, our daily morning routine known as 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. Aham Prema Mantra practice (I am divine love) with mala beads by Tiny Devotions.
- Gratitude reflection, where I say to myself at least three things I am most grateful for today
- I look at something beautiful.
- Breathe 16 times out of the right side of my nose to build solar energy for the day instead of using caffeine
- 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, Cobbler Twist, Supine Cobbler, Supine Tree pose, Supine Pigeon, Supine Pigeon Twist, Big Toe Pose, Bridge with Cat/Cow pulsation, Core cultivation, and Knees to Chest (Apanasana).
- I brush my teeth, use my tongue scraper
- Use my neti pot regularly
- Bathe (sometimes with oil massage before known as Abhyanga)
- Drink breakfast by juicing
I wake up like Piglet. I am excited about the unfolding of my day and active in my approach to co-creating it with the universe. I recognize that I have won the lotto by being chosen to breathe, whereas not everyone wins this ticket.
Losing my Father when I was 25 years old keeps this lesson alive for me. My Papa, Enrico, was my first yoga teacher. He taught me the Yoga of Life. Yoga of Adventure. Yoga of Experiencing the world! I grew up traveling the world with my brother and parents from the time I was an infant! I understood from their lessons that "wisdom begins in wonder" (Socrates).
Today, downshift your left brain: stoke the intuitive curiosity of your right brain and sit in awe of the magical mystery it is to be alive. Live in wonder of your own life! 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?"
