Healthy Living Tips - DESSERT FIRST

For those of you not yet fluent in “yoga-ese,” Shivasana is a reclining pose of total relaxation and restoration typically done at the end of yoga practice, after completing the more challenging poses.

But on this particular Sunday, my lovely instructor said something that really resonated with me: “Today, let’s have our dessert first!”

What this meant was that we all took Shivasana BEFORE we got started on the balancing and twisty-turny stuff. Result? I was invigorated throughout my practice and this tremendous feeling permeated the rest of my day.

More importantly, I created a new approach to my entire week as I wondered: What would it feel like to have Dessert First every day?

When I was growing up my mom had a t-shirt that said, “Life is Short - Eat Dessert First”. Now, my mom, a bona fide chocoholic, took this dictate quite literally - a virtual mandate to order the Snickers Sundae before the salad. Understandably then, I never considered that “Dessert First” could possibly relate to anything more than a junk food orgy.

These days I realize “Have Dessert First” is more than just justification for Rocky Road après broccoli. In fact, Dessert First” is a poignant mantra that we can use to get more pleasure out of each and every day.

How To Order Dessert

Think about anything you tend to “save” for special occasions only. For me, this is often a certain items of clothing or my good perfume.

I’m not saying I’ve started wearing my prom dress to the dry cleaners or dousing myself with Chanel No 5 before unloading the dishwasher, but I am wearing more of my “cute stuff” and spritzing myself, even if I am the only one who may get a whiff of my French cologne “just because”.

For you, it may be using linen napkins or the nice wineglasses that you usually “save” for company. Do fresh flowers tend to be something you splurge on only when you planning a family get-together?

This week, try buying a small, fragrant bouquet for your desk. What about that walk you rush to squeeze in at the end of your day? Tonight, prep the kids’ cereal bowls in advance so you can wake for a sunrise stroll and start your day off like you would at Canyon Ranch Spa.

You get the idea! “Dessert First” simply reminds us to go ahead and do a little bit of whatever it is that we usually reserve for “special occasions”.

Consider EVERY day special! Remember that every day you deserve to treat yourself to a bit of “Life Candy”.

No doubt about it - there will always be yucky stuff out there that we have to deal with. All the more reason to take advantage of the little, daily joys we can give to ourselves!

Be Sweet to Yourself!

Health Sundae
xo,

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