DAY 23!!!

Someone once told me that it takes 20-odd days of consistent anything to make it a habit.

I guess I have a habit!

I just finished (and by just, I mean 4 minutes ago) my 23rd-in-a-row yoga class. Only 342 left to go (I had to pause just now to work that out on a calculator...sigh....perhaps my next goal should involve math).

I feel great.
Really great. Tonight's class came from yogadownload.com. It was "Yoga For Weight Loss 2" - a great class for weight loss or if you just want to be challenged. The volume is not so great on this class, but the strain on the ears is worth it.

I still cannot do the Plough pose very well. I seem to remember doing that one without difficulty in my younger days; looks like it is going to take more than 23 days to get this girl up and over-easy!

So why does this guy make it look so easy? I suspect it has something to do with gravity. His bottom doesn't exactly have the same pull toward the earth that mine does.
Something to do with my assana :)

I hope that within the next year I will be able to post a picture of ME doing this pose!

Now, to my surprise, there have actually been people out there (okay, not millions, but one or two) who are reading this. Great! If you are out there going through your own challenge, let me know.....it would be great to share along with you.

Until next time (I am going to try and make a habit out of blogging, too!)
Until then.....GET YOUR DOWN DOG ON!

Yesterday was a rough one. My poor husband took the brunt of it, really.

 Let's call it a reality check.
Guess what I figured out?

I am not 24.

Ouch. That one hurt.

I guess I pushed myself a little hard this week. Yes, I know I have a year of this ahead of me, but I wanted to go, go, go! Like this is my own Olympics, or something. So....the hip took a beating. Big time. I could barely sit down yesterday. Earlier this year I was diagnosed with bursitis of the hip, a fused vertibrae and a hip labral tear. Actually, that is what prompted this whole yoga thing.

I have two four year olds.
I want to tire THEM out, not the other way around.

So, surgery or yoga.
You know what I chose.

TODAY, however, is a much better day. Instead of doing the usual Ashtanga or Vinyasa class, last night I chose Hatha - gentle yoga. I then sat on a scalding hot water bottle and, well, melted the pain away.
:)

Tonight's practice was much better! I did a shorter class (45 mins) and I feel good! I have to remember - I still have 350-something days to go!

Namaste!

Day 50 - no wait, that is 5!

I know the first few weeks will be the hardest.  I have to dig deep to find a place of motivation, living somewhere under the rolls perched upon the top of my belt buckle. 

To be honest, when I come home after a long day of looking at pretty awful writing, to be met by the four year old energy that reigns in my house, the last thing I really feel like doing is exercising! I guess that is the point of this journey. I have never been a person who does well at setting little goals; unless they are larger than life, they drop by the way side for me. 

It is going to be a long year :)

I did, however, want to pass along a great website for yoga-wanna-bes: yogadownload.com

I have already tried out several of their classes and so far I really love them. 

I can download videos, audios, posing charts. Their motto is take yoga anywhere.

I plan to :)

Everywhere, actually. Even on the plane. I discovered that I will have to do at least one yoga-in-the-air workout when I fly to Canada this summer. Should make for interesting discussion among the flight attendants!! I will be sure to take photos and post them on this blog. 

Speaking of which, if anyone is actually out there, I'd love it if you shared your own strange yoga pics!

GET YOUR DOWNDOG ON!

BE IN THE MOMENT

My hip hurts. I am stiff, tired. I've stopped counting wrinkles. I guess, at 43 (almost 44 to be more specific) I am just like any other aging woman.

WAIT! That isn't me!! What happened to the 20 something fireball who thought she could do anything? You know, that smart-ass who thought she had all the answers?

She grew up.
And out --- in all directions.

So, as I am about to enter my 45th year of life, I have decided to once again challenge myself.
On Saturday, May 5th, 2012 I began a year long journey........365 days of yoga. I will practice yoga - EVERY DAY - for 365 days. As I struggle, learn and grow, I will write in this blog.

My great hope is that I will discover some new things about myself, that I will learn to better accept myself, that I will embrace joy in a deeper way.

Oh, and I'd really like to look good when I am done :)

I am not sure who on Earth will want to read this and share in my journey, but if you are out there and you too want to challenge yourself, join in and share with me on this blog! Perhaps there is a new community of people out there for me to connect with in this way.

So let's get going!

"Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are"           (Jason Crandall)

 Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are. 

Jason Crand