by Alyssa Johnson, Certified Ma Yoga® Instructor
As a mother to a 5-year-old, coffee has been my best friend for the better part of 5 years. If we’re being honest here, we’ve been friends a lot longer than that, but our relationship really kicked up a notch in motherhood. 5 am “Moooooooom” morning call? Coffee. On the morning drive to daycare? Cold brew. Can’t possibly make it through the next 3 hours of work? Big cup of joe. Deserve a treat for surviving the perils of life as a working mom? $7 latte, extra cold foam please!
This all changed with taking the Mayurveda course at the start of my Ma Yoga Certification Program. When Jess first said, “You don’t have to give up your morning coffee”, I breathed a sigh of relief. But what she said next changed my perspective, “Ayurveda is a recognition that everything is going to have an effect, is it worth the effect?”
As much as I loved coffee, it wasn’t doing me any favors. As time went on, coffee wasn’t just my friend, it was my crutch. It was barely getting me through the day, and I was more exhausted than ever. I had terrible headaches. I was irritable. My anxiety was through the roof. I was less patient with my son. And every day, I could not wait to crawl into bed because I was JUST SO TIRED, only to do it all over again.
I knew I had to make a change. I decided to take her guidance to make this change for 30 days. If I missed my beloved coffee or felt life was better with it, I could always turn back. With Jess’s encouragement to take “baby steps”, I decided I would start my day with the anchor practice of drinking hot water first thing instead of coffee. I consoled myself with a promise that if I really needed it, I would allow myself coffee later in the day. As Jess spoke about caffeine as “artificial energy” and how it “hinders our body’s natural rhythms and the wisdom it needs to convey”, I wondered how would my body feel without it? Is it possible caffeine was getting in the way of me feeling good and naturally energized?
On day one as I filled my mug, it felt a little funny. Even my husband commented, “are you really just drinking hot water?” Yes, yes I was. His comment lit a fire in me (pitta anyone?) and motivated me to really commit and not turn to coffee to get the full benefit from these 30 days.
I was surprised to find my body survived without caffeine. I didn’t become the full-on zombie I feared I would. In fact, I didn’t feel zombie-like at all. I noticed more steady energy throughout the day, less anxiety, and better concentration. I was a better mom, therapist and human without coffee.
I began having fun with the spice combinations in my morning water, based on my needs that day. Sore throat? Add cayenne! Developing a cold? Ginger! Inflammation? Turmeric and black pepper! Belly ache? Cumin, coriander and fennel. The possibilities were endless but most days, I stick with my tried-and-true plain old mug of hot water.
Within days, the hot water became a daily ritual. Without the caffeine, I was sleeping better and most days I was able to wake before my “MOOOOOM” wake up call and take some time for me. This time became precious- an opportunity to start the day nurturing myself. It allowed me to practice mindfulness using my 5 senses creating a chance to be really present with myself. Listening to the sound of the water boiling, looking at the fun mug I was pouring the water into, feeling the warmth of the mug, smelling the various spices on days I decided to be “fancy”, and tasting the fabulous concoction I had created. On days that permitted it, I’d enjoy slow sips and really be present. I’d pair it with my daily kundalini meditation and self-Reiki practice. But let’s be real, some days, I was drinking my mug of hot water beside my son while scrambling to get us both ready for the day.
By the end of the 30 days, the sound of the water boiling held the same promise of a good day that the sound of my morning coffee once held, but instead this was natural and I was starting my day off hydrated instead of with a diuretic. I had feared taking away coffee would prevent me from staying “regular”, but lo and behold hot water similarly stimulates elimination. Cue the morning poop.
My wallet was thanking me for not stopping at every drive through I passed. I noticed this practice led to me being more mindful about what I put in my body and how I care for myself- starting my day off with nurturing myself was really paying dividends. The morning mindfulness carried through to being more present with my family, my clients and myself. It even opened the door to adding additional Ayurvedic practices such as neti pot, oil massage and tongue scraping to my routine (if it sounds like I’m speaking gibberish here is your sign to take Mayurveda!)
It’s safe to say, I have officially said goodbye to coffee and this hot water practice is here to stay. Take a moment and ask yourself, is drinking coffee worth the effect? If the answer is no, or even I’m not sure, it may be time to test out the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda and watch the practice of starting your day with hot water change your life.
For more info about Alyssa, go to www.alyssajohnsonwellness.com
