Well, I’m slagging. Despite my big commitment to try and exercise more and eat better, I have returned to my bad habits, enjoying red wine with my dinners and choosing to work or rest rather than exercise.

I did go, finally, to a yoga class last week, but I am afraid that I have been spoiled by past teachers who ran their classes as if each pose was sacred and where the practitioners were silent and intent. In a recent class at the local YWCA there was very entertaining frivolity and chatter, but little of the stillness and concentration which I find so alluring about the practice. So, I will continue my search for a yoga teacher. In the meantime, just writing this post reminds me to recommit to my intention to make this a month of mental, physical and spiritual movement forward.

It shouldn’t have to be hard. I even had the weight machine in the basement repaired two weeks ago. You’d think that I would lift. It sits in the basement, silently creating guilt. I think the spiritual lesson here is that the guilt has got to go. It serves no one. Instead I’m going to take a cue from basketball players who– research shows–shoot better if they practice visualizing themselves making baskets. I’m going to visualize myself lifting weights. Until I actually make it down the basement steps I’ll at least be buff in my imagination. And wouldn’t it be funny if that was the key!