the tourniquet effect

So you already know that I went frolicking all over Asheville this past weekend.

What you might NOT know is that I talked Lindsay into going to a Bikram yoga class on Sunday.

I’ve done Bikram before. 

I have a love/hate relationship.

As in, I almost want to vomit when I enter that 105 degree-humid-arm pit of a room and roll my eyes at how long you have to hold the poses and can’t stand that first pose where you breath in and make a gurgling type sound.  It’s a bit ridiculous that people (me) would pay to do this.

That’s the hate part.

The love part comes during those last few poses when I know I’m almost done.

When the sweat and toxins and negative thoughts roll out onto my mat.

When I feel like Gumby – flexible and fluid.

When I feel strong and happy.

That’s when I want to bottle up my sweat and drink it like Love Potion #9 so I can feel this way forever.

That’s the creepy love part.

During class on Sunday, as we were in Locust pose, the teacher said something remarkable.  I’ll my best to paraphrase, for I failed to bring my recorder to this particular class.

During a lot of these poses, we create a TOURNIQUET effect in our body.  Restricting blood flow to certain areas so that when we release out of the pose, new blood can rush in and flush out the bad.

I love this idea.  The Tourniquet Effect.

And particularly how it can apply to our lives.

As soon as she mentioned a “tourniquet”, all I could think about (aside from the pain of Locust pose), was that I have areas in my life that need to die.

My idols, my obsessions, my greed…..my sin. 

All of those areas need to have their blood supply restricted. 

I need to create a tourniquet to them.

So that when they go numb/dead/stop functioning, I can release the pressure and allow “NEW BLOOD” to flow in.

Refreshing, oxygenated blood.  Life.

I need to cut off supply, flush out the bad, then bring NEW LIFE into those areas.

This idea isn’t new.  I haven’t come up with anything novel or unique.

And my struggles aren’t new.  I’ll always have struggles.  We all will.  It’s simply part of living in this world.

The only difference between NOW versus THEN, is that I’m trying a different approach.

I’m being mindful.

The Tourniquet Effect.

It’s perfectly in line with TDI.  It’s putting less time into the superficial.  Letting some things go.  Cutting off the energy that goes to these negative areas.

Then…

Seeing if after time (aka the tourniquet pressure) and thought, I might want to put new, renewed effort into them.  Or not.

My prediction??

I might lose a few limbs.

…and gain a whole heck of a lot of perspective in the process.

———–

QUESTION:  Are there areas of your life that need the blood supply cut off??   Why do you think it’s so hard to change negative behavior/thoughts?

splendid…lindsay

P.S.  I was featured yesterday on Calee’s blog!!  Check her out – an amazing graphic designer and BLEND!

Oh and we’re skipping Tuesday Trainer again this week – we’ll resume next week!