The Ashtanga Doctor

Last night I had it rough. My throat ached, I was tired but could not sleep, my eyes burned, I coughed and my nose was running: Hey hey hay fever (Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. Pollen is a fine powder from plants.) Yes, it is that time of year, and it hasn't been raining for days, so there is a lot of pollen in the air.

When my alarm clock woke me at 5.30, I felt run over by a dozen elephants. My eyes were swollen, my throat felt soar and I felt extremely tired.

I am not going.
Better to stay in bed.
I can sleep for another two hours.

Then I remembered the line I read yesterday: If you don't push your boundaries, you will never get to know yourself.
I changed my clothes and packed my stuff.

In the shala, arriving on m mat, I was still sniffing and scratching my eyes. But I thought: no worries, I can  quit at any time if I want to.
I started my practice, and finished it the way I always do. I didn't quit, not even a bit.
And when I lay in savasana, I felt way better than before. I didn't have any symptom of hay fever. My nose wasn't blocked anymore, nothing ached nor itched and I felt awake and fine.

Unfortunately, during the day, the symptoms returned. I am looking forward to tomorrow's practice.