...I cannot remember when I last meditated, I had stopped somewhere between the 3rd and 4th week of the challenge. Then life took over, I was traveling, I was tired and not practicing yoga or meditating, eating poorly, feeling fat and ugly...

Then I read an interesting article on Ayurveda ( the ancient Indian healing system ) and the causes of disease.I read that toxins accumulate in our cell structure from actions and behaviors from a past life, this life's experience or re-actions. This is called " khavaigunya " or a defective space in an organ or tissue due to a genetic predisposition, trauma or chronic conditions and a likely place for imbalance or disease to arise, often as the result of accumulation of ama (toxic residue ).

" A cause of khavaigunya may be unresolved, deep-seated, self-conscious emotions, such as fear, anger, grief, or sadness. In our daily life and relationships, any emotion that is not resolved completely becomes crystallized and these crystals of unresolved emotions accumulate in the deep connective tissue, creating khavaigunya. Cellular ama ( toxin ) can also cause a defective space. When the cell membrane is covered by ama or toxins, there is no communication between two cells, so the cells become isolated. An isolated cell is a lonely cell and a lonely cell loses its self-esteem. When a person loses self-esteem, it means the cells are clogged with ama."

And then the article talked about eliminating the toxins...

" Every experience, creates fragmentation. There are so many fragments in our lives, because we are fragmented human beings.  A fragmented mind is a limited mind. Khavaigunya can result from giving emphasis to one fragment. It is important to look at all fragments as one and this demands a great deal of awareness. Lack of awareness in one part of the body also creates a khavaigunya.

Meditation means mindfulness. When you are here, be here completely. Don't go elsewhere mentally. When one completely pays attention to this very moment, this very moment is a moment of God. This very moment is a moment of enlightenment. Moment to moment enlightenment eradicates khavaigunya."

It sounded like in the 2-3 weeks I did practice I took actions, took baby steps to start eliminating the toxins. Knowing now how much I help myself when I do meditate - 10 minutes a day is a good seed to sprout. again! Starting over....

The article I read can be found at - http://www.vedichealing.com/articles_samskaras.cfm