30 Days of Yoga

I've recently embarked upon a 30 day yoga challenge. Getting into yoga has always been something I'd been interested in but I'd never really tried, mainly out of fear of embarrassment. I'm not the most athletic or flexible person on the planet and phys-ed was never my best class, but, nonetheless I'd always admired those who could strike a pose. 

This year I've made it my goal to try out new things and to get into better shape. I've stuck with my workout routine that I began seriously in February and to my content I've seen results. And then I stumbled upon something called "30 Days of Yoga" by a YouTuber and yoga instructor named Adriene. After watching day one's video I thought to myself, "hey, I think I can do this" so I tried it out. And I ended up liking it. That same week I went out and purchased a yoga mat and now I'm 15 days into the challenge. 

Day 1 - Ease Into It 

Throughout the challenge there have been some challenges, at times I thought I could not do some of the moves but I persevered and didn't allow myself to give up. I like the nature of this challenge because it's done from within the comfort of my own home, which I think is a definite contributing factor of as to why I've stuck with it so long. When I'm at home I'm granted the freedom to pause the video or play it back and I think that's important for a first timer like me. And if I fail at one of the moves there's no sense of embarrassment.

Embarking on the 30 Days of Yoga has definitely been a positive experience.  When engrossed in the challenge I've been able to slip away from the stresses of the day and just remain focused on the moves for that day. The sense of weightlessness I feel by just letting go of all inhibition and built up tensions is extremely rewarding. Remaining present is also a skill I've been able to develop and build upon which each passing day. To focus on the breaths I take, the way the moves make my body feel and the way I feel on the inside is all a part of being present. Whatever is happening outside the mat doesn't matter. When I'm doing yoga it's the time to focus on me. The way in which Adriene approaches yoga has had an impact on the way I approach it as well. She doesn't make it a totally serious matter, but rather allows it to be lighthearted and playful, allowing room for curiosity and exploration. And as a result everyday I look forward to the time I've set aside for myself and the mat and I'm excited to see what the next 15 days have in store!