By: Lela Cloud

By now, we are neck-deep into the Life Yoga 30 Day Challenge and for many of us, the accompanying nutritional detox. 

I think that “challenge” is a good word to describe this process. We’re challenged to make the time for class, even when we’re sore or tired. We’re challenged to come up with new, clean, light menu ideas and to resist some of perhaps the best substances on Earth, like alcohol and coffee.  We’re even challenged to deal lovingly with partners and children who do not want a spirulina smoothie for breakfast or friends who are used to having that weekly cocktail and girltalk with us.

March was a challenging month as well. It’s always quite long, but this year we had Mardi Gras too, which left us depleted and lifeless is many ways. The first few weeks of the Challenge might’ve been truly challenging. But now it’s April, and everything is green.

Green is the color of Spring - the trees, grass, etc. In Feng Shui, green is the color of the East - new beginnings.  In yoga, the fourth chakra, the heart chakra, which expresses joy and compassion, is green.  Green is money and abundance. In our kitchens, green is kale, spinach, cilantro, seaweed, parsley.  Greens are some of the most powerfully cleansing and nourishing foods we can eat.

These last several days of this Challenge, let’s be green. Extra green. In yoga class, imagine the green of the heart washing the whole body in compassion and joy. Make a huge salad with everything green you can think of - even olives, lettuces of course, seaweed (I’m telling you, it’s delicious) broccoli, whatever. The greener the better. Put a greens blend powder into your smoothies.  Drink a pot of green tea everyday. Plant something green in the eastern part of your home. When you’re outside, know that the green is in you, too.  Just like Spring, we’re brand new again, clean and fresh and full of possibility.

Looking forward to seeing you all in class!