We’ve all been told to do yoga and meditate for our health. But what happens to yourself if you commit to 30 days of Yoga? You feel like you can take on the world! Or at least that’s how I felt from it.
Yoga with Adriene
If you haven’t heard of Yoga with Adriene, I’m sorry that you’ve been living under a rock but go check her out NOW. Here’s the link to her YouTube channel. Actually, maybe wait until you hit the end of this blog post.
https://www.youtube.com/c/yogawithadriene
There are videos for people who are just starting out, want a challenge in their core, practice balancing poses and even yoga for when you’re sick and need some extra love. A bonus she’s been doing over the past year has been a monthly themed yoga. She’ll take videos that have already been filmed and on the channel and put together a calendar that flows with what that month’s theme is.
Time to Go All In
I’ve always wanted to start one of these months. A month filled with daily yoga. I’ve started many times actually, but then I would get to day 4 or 5 and then life happened and I no longer stuck with it. I felt defeated time after time and then thought it’s just Yoga, it doesn’t matter. But then January 1st of 2022 came and I received the email from Adriene explaining that this month was going to be different. She was going to lead a new practice every day and share a note on the meaning behind it and what to expect. That was it – this was going to be the time I stick with it and the time I go all in. The time I would figure out exactly what happens to yourself after 30 days of Yoga.
Day 1 came and went and I was excited for Day 2. I started to figure out which time of the day my body received the calming and strengthening practice and made sure I plugged that into my calendar so it was always on my radar. The daily emails sharing the new video would come to my inbox at 11:02am (yes, I love habits and made note that this was always the time). I would get my mat out and press play.
It’s not always Easy
There were of course days where I wasn’t sure I “had time” or I really didn’t feel like it or I was umm yes hungover. It wasn’t always easy or convenient. Turns out all of those days were the days I needed it most. Most of the yoga classes started out with a few minutes of breath work and tuning into your body. Let me tell you, that was the hardest part of the class. To sit there and be still with your thoughts. To learn how to push your to do list out of the front of your brain and listen to the sounds around you. Smell your freshly lit candle or the fresh breeze from outside. To see what areas of your body are tight and to let them relax and unclench. This was where the magic was built.
As the days went on I could feel my body getting more limber and flexible. I was able to turn in and tune out the world and really just be. I was enjoying breathing deeply with purpose. Many days my dog Finn would even join in on the fun. Well he would be snoozing but the comfort of him being near to my mat was reassuring. After the practice I always felt lighter and that my anxiety wasn’t nearly as high. I felt at peace with where I was in life.
The End of 30 Days of Yoga
Then day 30 came. The final day. I was SO excited for the practice she was going to guide us through. Until, she shared she wasn’t. That WE would be our own teacher. That we’ve learned the moves, learned the language and learned how to discover within us what we need. Panic started to rise inside me. How was I going to do yoga myself!? Where do I start, what do I do?! Then the voice within said trust. And so I did. She took off her microphone and just played some lovely and calming music while we got on the mat and did what felt good to us in the moment.
I sat there and I closed my eyes and breathed. I honed into the music and let my body begin to feel. And then I moved. I did moves that incorporated a lot of heart opening to allow light and love into me. I worked on my core to remind myself I am strong. I stretched my sore muscles to remind myself of being flexible when times are hard. And I sat in stillness to remind myself I am enough and I can just be.
The Journey will Continue
I bowed my head to close the practice with a namaste and felt the tears flow from me. I had no idea they were deep within but through that practice they were released. It was truly an honor to feel that experience and I hope you all give the 30 day journey a try. I know my Yoga journey will continue.
All in all, here’s what happens to yourself after doing Yoga for 30 days. It’s not about fancy poses or having a lean long body. It’s about finding yourself and realizing you are perfect where you are today and where you’re going in the future will be just as great. It’s about learning to love yourself, mind, body and soul.
