I left an hour into my 90-minute Bikram yoga class last night.

At about an hour in just after we finished the standing series, I left dizzy, nauseated and a little annoyed with myself.

My body reminded me why moderation is better than excess as I sat in the lobby outside the 100-degree studio dehydrated and overheating.

Ugh. I consumed way too much alcohol, sweets and meat lately and I had started to uncomfortably sweat it out.

I had a blast drunkenly eating turkey dogs, s’mores and drinking vodka and coke while tailgating for the USF game Saturday. From what I recall of Thursday’s adventure barhopping, concert-going, drinking four vodka tonics and two shots I had fun too.

While I took care of my social life, I hadn’t taken care of the rest of me. And it was painful.

Our teacher’s message last night was to give gratitude to all out bodies do for us. I felt thankful that on most days I can do the 90 minute hot workout I enjoy so much.

A very apropos e-mail from Yoga Journal today reminded me I needed not live yesterday’s scenario next week. I’m going home to St. Louis for the holiday and will be enjoying five full days of my mom’s cooking.

Mmmm.

But ahh yes, the magic of mindfulness also works when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner.

As the Yoga Journal article points out:

According to Ayurvedic principles, there’s a physiological reason for this: When you eat in moderation, your body and mind are happy. But when you eat too much, you overwhelm your agni (the digestive fire), creating chaos in your belly and inviting unpleasant imbalances such as gas, weight gain, and depression.

I’m sure too much tryptophan adds to this too.

So for this trip home I’m going to try and exercise a little self restraint and not gobble everything in sight.

Maybe then my digestive fires won’t be so aflame and my return to yoga won’t be as painful as yesterday.

Happy thanksgiving and namaste!