In July, I decided to do yoga every day. Apart from a 10 minute class on a travel day & a 60 minute class this past Sunday, I did a 30 minute class every day. I feel great! I’m most proud of myself for sticking with something. I’m not always the best at seeing things through, so I appreciated the chance to flex my “Keep my promises to myself” muscle.
But the yoga benefits are pretty awesome, too. My favorite instructor Kristin McGee said in one class that a yoga practice can be as much of a habit as flossing. This is the perfect analogy. When people start to floss, they don’t always want to but since it’s so good for overall wellness, it just becomes an ingrained habit over time. I definitely didn’t always want to do a class, but as the month went on, it was definitely becoming more habit-like.
So, yes, I’m planning on continuing. My upper back is less tense and my shoulder mobility has improved in reverse arms and double wraps. While I would love to one day have a crazy pose under my belt (firefly!?!), my more short-term goal is to go from downward dog to lunge without needing a self-assist to get my foot in proper position. This goal has the potential to be a longer timeline than I’m expecting, but I hope it happens at some point. Other (loose) goals that may take awhile include a more 90° placement of my pigeon front leg, loosening of my quads in the grab-my-foot-from-a-lunge pose, achieving a bind in a forward lunge, lifting my leg while in a wheel, and getting into the splits (because why not?).
Yoga hasn’t always been my thing. In my 20s, I felt too high-energy to devote time to a practice. It just seemed boring. It’s funny how things change over time. Or maybe a better word is “stiffen.” I definitely think working on mobility is so important. And it doesn’t have to be 30 minutes of daily yoga but for me, that’s what I like right now and have time for- so that’s nice!
The mental health benefits of yoga for me are far greater than the physical. If I don’t do yoga a couple/few times a week, I’ll end up finding the world a far more stressful place than it is when I’m practicing. I have come to grips that I’ll never be able to touch my heels in downward dog or do a headstand, but I can focus and practice on breathing in times of stress.
I think it’s become a little more meditative for me over the years. I really like it.
I’m with you! I’ve been doing yoga every day since January 2nd. I have been doing Yoga with Adrienne 30 day challenges, so today I started a new one (I’m at 2021 now). I had a cold last week and almost skipped one day, but the idea of breaking my streak kept me going. It started as being something I was going to do for January, but I liked it so much I kept at it.
I remember something my dad told me once about meditation. It’s not that I notice specific benefits, it’s that days when I do it are better than days when I don’t. That’s me with yoga. And it really has helped my neck and shoulder pain. And I also would love to be able to easily get from downward dog to a lunge easily. Maybe someday, maybe not.
Congratulations! That is a very impressive streak! Yes, sometimes keeping the streak alive is the biggest motivator.
Way to go on your yoga practice. Yoga has been my streak for a few months now and I love being in the habit… and I LOVE Kristin McGee. You must be so sad as well that she’s leaving Peloton!
Very! I think she’s such a good teacher! And yes, I think you are the Queen of fitness streaks, at least among the bloggers I follow. #inspo