Monkey Mind

 

 

I’ve been inspired!! A new challenge is on the horizon! Are you with me??

Allow me to elaborate.

It all started with a mandatory health assessment done through my job. I put a link there as a shameless plug because I truly love everything about working there and the incredible work we do. Get onboard! Ok, that’s not what this blog is about, but there you go.

In order to maintain the current cost of health insurance, all must undergo a health screening and take steps toward a healthier lifestyle. I think this is great and believe that more businesses should hop on this bandwagon. As I’m a proud health nut as of late, this was actually an exciting day for me. Minus the finger prick—why does that hurt so much?

I was formerly not used to passing a health test with flying colors, but I am proud of how everything turned out. Numbers were great…all except my flexibility. I’m in the tenth percentile. As I’ve always been a crazy academic perfectionist/overachiever, the tenth percentile is clearly unacceptable. How was I going to solve this? Touch my toes daily? Boring. Boo. There is no punching. Or grunting and heaving out of sheer badassery in the name of one more rep!!!

A Quiet Strength

I know I’ve said I’ve tried some great yoga workouts before, and I have. They were all like “Yoga Fat Burn,” and “Super Duper Power Yoga,” with the aspect of yoga for strength training highlighted.

I’ve been to a few classes too, but I’ve never been able to really, truly commit to the practice. Why? Because I get bored. Because I’m loud and rambunctious and this quiet time of meditation is just not my cup of tea. Because really, I’m more of a coffee drinker, in the car, on the way to work after staying up too late finishing projects.

This simple quest to increase physical flexibility has led me to a greater question. Perhaps I need to be focusing on also increasing my mental flexibility. Why is it that I cannot handle 30-60 minutes of silent meditation—which, just to be straight with you, means prayer to me.

 Remember how I said I’m a sucker for a trend? Well, in 2008 I read Eat Pray Love. You probably have too. I absolutely loved it, and a passage from it came to mind as I was thinking about this.

Like most humanoids, I am burdened with what the Buddhists call the ‘monkey mind’– the thoughts that swing from limb to limb, stopping only to scratch themselves, spit, and howl. From the distant past to the unknowable future, my mind swings wildly through time, touching on dozens of ideas a minute, unharnessed and undisciplined.

After much pondering, I am inspired to achieve something a little deeper and more significant than my inability to reach a higher percentile on the flexibility for my health insurance. Worthy of a cause as that is 😉  What greater inspiration for better fitness than to develop myself more on a personal level?

I am going to start each morning with yoga. I am determined to quiet my mind. I am not just going to count down the seconds until I can stop holding this downward dog.

Hayley Hobson, I also wanted to give you a shout out because you’re a true inspiration as well.  Check out her blog if you want to be inspired to test your strength. Though, if I could make a suggestion: Can you blog about how you got your great hair?? Seriously girl, it’s amazing.

So here it goes. I’m excited about the physical benefits of strengthening my muscles, but more than that I’m curious to see if I can actually keep my mind quiet.

I might hate it. At least I know I can hit it hard in the afternoon.

Stay tuned, folks.

Cheers!