I like to dive right into practice first thing in the morning, but it doesn’t always look the same.
Some days I’ll read a bit of yogic text (I’ve been working through Eknath Easwaran’s Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living for quite some time) before I sit to meditate. Other days I’ll get right on the cushion. Some days I throw down the mat right away and start moving my body around before I sit.
That first portion of my day usually lasts about an hour, then I take my dogs for a long walk. Getting outside makes me feel so alive, so connected to the world around me. I do a lot of stopping and literally smelling roses and listening to birds sing. It’s my way of practicing staying present in the moment.
I like to do all of that before I check email, social media, etc., so that I can stay connected to what’s real. It’s just too easy to get caught up in the technology whirlwind; if I get grounded first, it’s a lot less appealing to waste time in that space.