There is nothing more tranquil then waking up before the sunrise and starting my day off with a meditative yoga practice. Even if the practice is an intense one, the environment is absolutely serene. It is completely still and silent, stress has not crept in my mind from my job, and I find that the physical practice paves a smooth path to the spiritual practice.
Practicing at this early hour creates a pattern of stillness in my mind so that I can conquer any obstacle the day has in store for me.
Look! I put myself inside the moon!
Before I started practicing Ashtanga Yoga, I was a big time night owl. I am still a lady of the night by nature, and it is easy for me to fall back into that habit if I let it happen. Of course, the most important thing is to get your practice in when you can, but one of the traditions of being an Ashtanga Yoga teacher and practitioner is an early morning practice. I don’t question it. It’s just the way it is, and I love the simplicity of it.
If you have been practicing or teaching at a Mysore Shala for awhile, the transition is obvious. Most people start off during the night session, and when someone has decided to dedicate themselves to the practice, they start to show up in the mornings. It is pretty fabulous to watch!
You’re going to think I am absolutely nuts, but at one time I was teaching an early morning 6am class, and this meant that I had to get on my mat by 4am to finish my practice. I had to be awake at 3:45 am at the latest! If you think that is crazy, you are right. But, good crazy!
I treat myself to warm ginger, lemon, honey detox tea right after I practice, so it is one of my biggest motivations for getting out of bed and onto the mat. This tea cleanses the liver and sparks digestion, so it is a great way to keep your body hydrated and balanced throughout the day.
Some of the benefits of Ginger Lemon Honey Detox Tea:
- Ginger: Aids in digestion, helps prevent colds and flus, keeps normal blood circulation, reduces pain and inflammation, and strengthens immunity.
- Lemons : helps flush out unwanted materials and stimulates the liver, balances pH Levels, enhances enzyme function, freshens breath, clears skin, and helps fight viral infections
- Honey: boosts the immune system, reduces the risk of heart disease, is an antiseptic so it helps sooth the stomach, clears your skin, and is good for coughs and sore throats
- 1 Tbsp. fresh ginger chopped (no need to peel, but make sure to clean)
- 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp. honey
- Put the ginger and water in a tea pot.
- Bring to a boil
- Turn down the heat and let sit for 3 minutes
- Squeeze the lemon juice and the honey in a large mug.
- Strain the ginger tea into the mug.
- Stir to dissolve
- This is a basic recipe to follow, but I honestly make a full tea pot and might have two cups before I hit the road to work. It is also okay to add water to the fresh ginger if you want another cup that you didn't anticipate for. As you start to get used to making this tea, you might just start to chop up the desired amount of ginger instead of measuring it all out.
- I also enjoy adding the lemon rind to the teapot and letting that soak in the water.
- Enjoy the yumminess in your mouth and happy detoxing!
I also enjoy adding a flavored tea to change it up! Try one of these favorites from Teavana:
Citrus Lavender Sage Herbal Tea
Don’t forget the tea strainer since this is loose tea!
Happy Sipping! Namaste!
Do you have a morning tradition? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
