Day 1 - January 27, 2013 - 30 day yoga challenge begins.
Some have asked why on Earth I would sign up for something like this - a 30 day yoga challenge. How could I commit to practicing something for 30 consecutive days? So, I ask you? Do you wake up everyday? Do you eat lunch everyday? Some have said one could only practice yoga for 30 consecutive days if they were self-employed or unemployed. I happen to be self-employed, but that does not come without it's own challenges or commitment to arrive on my mat. I learned many, many things throughout these 30 days.
1. Patience - for the first 3 days, I noticed my breath was very shallow. I was experiencing anxiety, a feeling I have not experienced in some time. Why was my breath so short, so heavy? I had little patience and kept thinking "Is this class over yet?" Anxiety set in as a reminder to check in to what was really going on. Then I asked myself "Is this how you plan to show up for the next 27 days?" I quickly shifted my mindset and began my practice from that day forward with sheer joy. I got excited to return to my mat each day. I began to really focus in on the pose, the moment, on my breath and before I knew it, the class came to an end. As Yoga Teacher David Duerkop said, "Don't do the pose, let the pose do you." Read that again. It sounded to me like an oozing of melty goodness. I had permission so to speak to let my mind go and really get into it.
2. Judgements - Each day I came to class and set an intention for my practice. Some days I dedicated my practice to a loved one. Other days, I said, "I AM SUCCESS" or "I AM HAPPY". I was open to learn a new pose, learn from a new teacher or whatever else may have come up. I enjoyed music, dim lights and an incense burning during class. I thought, I am home. When I arrived on Day 12 and there was no music, bright lights and no incense burning, I started to let judgements creep in. No music? When will the music start to play, etc. Yoga is not about the music, about the lights or about incense. Wait for it. Yep. Another mindset shift in progress. Now, when the impulse to judge or self-judge arises, I am mindful of allowing a positive shift in my perception of self to translate my thoughts into something more productive and purposeful. But all too often, we allow our thoughts to be destructive; convincing ourselves we just aren’t good enough. We have to learn to use the power of our minds to better ourselves, to uplift our spirits.
Stay tuned as I share how this 30 day practice evolves.
