The Sattvic Practice on Halloween

So, my two-year old walked into the kitchen at 7:30 am, with a 3 Muskateers in his hand...after rifling through the Halloween candy, he decides this would make an excellent breakfast. As much as I would sometimes agree with him, I can't give my child chocolate for breakfast! Right!? I guess I could, but then I would be breaking my promise of being the best I can be, which includes being the best "Mom" I can be. So, on a day where candy is the center of the universe, you have to ask yourself, "is this the best possible thing I could be giving myself"?...probably not, but I am a firm believer of everything in moderation. Yogis are known for eating a "Sattvic" diet which promotes clarity and calmness of mind and enhances spiritual growth. It is "sweet, fresh, and agreeable" and includes most fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables, particularly green leafy vegetables, whole grains, honey, pure water and milk (with the reservation that commercially produced milk may not nowadays be so sattvic...). Given the amount of pesticides and chemical fertilizers used on commercial crops, only organic products still qualify as Sattvic, and frozen foods certainly don't. For the most part, I try and eat this way, but we're not all perfect all of the time...:) And, as yogis and yoginis, we still have to find "Santosha"...or contentment. So, today, maybe don't go for the third Reese's Peanut Butter cup, and just have one. You'll feel better tomorrow! However, if you sit patiently waiting for the non-existent Trick-or-Treaters and proceed to eat the entire bowl of candy, here's a heat building practice to burn it all off:

Down Dog - 15 breaths

Plank - hold for 1 minute

Chaturanga - hold for 5 breaths

Cobra - hold for 5 breaths

Down Dog

R High Lunge - hold for 1 minute

R side Parsvottasana...vinyasa

L High Lunge - hold for 1 minute...vinyasa

R Warrior II - hold for 30 sec.

Utthitha Parsvokansasa - hold for 30 sec...vinyasa

Repeat L side

childs pose

Forearm Plank - hold for 1 minute

Childs pose

Down Dog

Plank

Side Plank R&L...vinyasa

Malasana

Nivasana

Ardha Nivasana

Nivasana

A supine twist of your choice

Savasana