31 Days Down. On To A-Z!

It may seem redundant to write about my yoga challenge since I posted about it daily from Day 3 but I think it’s important for me to recognize just what it’s done for me. The challenge was facilitated by my home studio, Bright Yoga, for the month of January. Before then, I had been attending Yin yoga classes twice a week fairly consistently since August of last year. I want to repeat that for you and myself. I had been attending yoga classes twice a week since August of last year. As of today, February 1st, I’ve developed a bonafide yoga practice! The teachers at my studio would often encourage us to practice yoga at home or develop a home practice and it was definitely something I wanted to do. I just didn’t feel confident enough in my ability to remember enough asanas (poses) or  in my ability to execute them outside of a studio where I could alway look to the teacher or the next student.

Truth be told, and this is something I did confess to in a prior blog, I didn’t intend to do the challenge. I had been upset and mildly resentful about a misunderstanding of just when I was to start yoga teacher training. However, I had just wrapped up a Yoga Manifestation Retreat in Ojai on New Years Day with Jen Pastiloff. That was January 1st and we definitely did some yoga that morning before closing circle. I’d also discovered or uncovered my intention for 2016 was to be open to what’s presented or offered or to allow Life to unfold as it presents itself. January 1st was a Friday. Back home the next day, I headed to my home studio because I normally attend the Saturday 9:30 am Yin yoga class. My teacher, Tracy, made an announcement about the 31-day challenge for January and offered the suggestion of practicing some yoga at home if we couldn’t get to the studio every day. She said for our home practice we could do some breathing, meditation and a few gentle stretches for 10-15 minutes. The studio offered extra classes so there would be some available every day of the week as well. I thought to myself that I could breathe, meditate and stretch for 10-15 minutes. And it just so happened to work out that I had done yoga every day of January so far. The next day, Sunday, after a meeting in the park, I busted out my yoga mat under a tree and got busy. It was pretty darn cool and I didn’t have any problem remembering a few asanas or executing them! I practiced yoga by firelight several times and even once practiced a little in the shower. 

Back to recognizing what a daily practice of yoga has done for me. It immediately made me realize I would NOT have been mentally or physically prepared for yoga teacher training after the first of the year. I am much better prepared and I will continue to prepare myself for training in the Spring. My strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance have improved a lot. I’ve been introduced to and I am learning Vinyasa yoga, which is a faster flow and more strenuous style. I’ve gotten to know more of the wonderful other students at Bright Yoga because I took different classes. They were all so wonderfully helpful and encouraging. I’ve learned I am capable of recreating a safe, challenging space for myself at home using my yoga practice, just as Bright Yoga does for me when I practice there. Seriously, my day 29 home practice was absolutely transformative. I am more committed, determined and directed as ever to practice yoga personally and professionally. My goal is to continue strengthening my yoga asana practice and read more on the other seven limbs of yoga!

Now on to Mindful Living A-Z for the month of February. I created a closed group for the women who’ve signed up so far. Who am I???  Stay tuned for what practicing Mindfulness will do.

NAMASTE