21 Day Yoga Challenge: Day 21 – I Finished My Challenge!
Yoga
(c)MelanieParish, 2013
How did it end?
I thought I would go to class today and I would stay in Shavasana but the instructor was so good, I ended up doing most of the class. Strangely, today, at the studio, I didn’t know any of the staff. All along the way, they have cheered me on and told me I am doing a great job. Today, there wasn’t anyone to say they were excited that I finished the challenge. I notice my attachment to this and realize this is a personal journey. It is my journey and it is up to me to attach any celebration to it. I realize I am feeling very happy that I did this challenge.
What’s different since the 21 day challenge?
I feel stronger and more peaceful than I did before I started. I am now able to be still for long periods of time and I am learning to still my mind. I love the physicality of yoga along with the slow movements. It feels so peaceful and powerful. I love the stretches. I am starting to feel like my body is stronger. I am finding muscles in new places–back, shoulders, forearms, thighs. I feel like my core is stronger than it has been in a long time. I no longer think about my back being weak as I lie on my mat. I feel strong and completely comfortable lying on the floor for an hour. I hardly feel the heat now. I feel the physical exertion as my heart rate goes up and I feel the sweat on my body but the heat feels so good now, at least most of the time. I find myself looking forward to it.
In February, I started working with a personal trainer–Suzanne Conroy at Workfit. She was fantastic. When I started working with her, I could barely walk a kilometer. I could have never done this yoga challenge. With her help, I have improved to the point that I can do 4 or 5 strenuous yoga classes weekly and I completed a daily yoga challenge. I was able to walk all over Europe this summer. This year has been about exercise for me and I am planning to finish strong.
What is the same?
I still can’t do all the poses on my knees. I didn’t really lose any weight. This is always a goal and I hoped if I did yoga every day I would lose wight. I am down about 2 pounds after 3 weeks. I found my increase in hunger offset any weight loss from the increase in exercise. My body seems to be able to stay chubby no matter what exercise I do.
What now?
The biggest pay-off for me is that I have found a practice. I am now getting up and going to yoga every morning. I love the rigor of the poses and the classes and I am enjoying pushing my body as well as paying attention to when I have pain and backing off. I have found a way to have exercise in my life. I am signed up for the 30 day challenge. In fact, my day 21 was also my day 4. I will complete another 30 day challenge and will probably go ahead an finish a total of 50 days of yoga.
What am I still attached to?
I notice my mind doesn’t sit easy with the messiness of the 21 day challenge and the 30 day challenge overlapping. I find it messy in my head. I like things neat and tidy. I know it is silly and it doesn’t really matter but my brain liked the simplicity of the 21 day challenge. I am unclear about what to call my yoga challenge now. Is it a 30 day challenge? Is it a 47 day challenge? Am I going to add 3 days and do 50? I could add 31 more days and it would be 81. Do I take my yoga mat with me if I go on vacation?
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