I DID IT! I completed the yoga challenge, making my 30th class on the 40th day. Here are my thoughts on the final five classes.
- Monday 7:30 p.m., Hatha II, Beth: Class # 26 – Tonight I had the most amazing practice I’ve had in a while, very strong and very intense. We did more wild thing (flipping the dog), and now that I’ve done it I felt much more comfortable going into it and was able to really sustain the pose and maintain correct form. Even more exciting, for the first time EVER I was able to do bow pose! AND grab my foot with my knee bent in pigeon pose. My hamstrings were cooperating more than they ever have, and I felt like an incredible badass. We wrapped up class by working more on crow pose, which I was able to do for a couple seconds and fell out of pretty hard, but I couldn’t have cared less by that point – I was elated and glowing. With as blah as I’ve been lately, this was exactly what I needed. Endorphins are definitely at work! :)
- Tuesday 5 p.m., Hatha I/II, Kalena: Class # 27 - Another class full of delicious hard work! Kalena had us move through a series incorporating down dog, plank, and lunges. We used blocks under each hand to support us in the lunges and the planks. I LOVED how I was able to hover so well in chaturanga with the assistance of the blocks. By the end of class, my arms were quivering and noodley – such amazingly hard work. I continue to appreciate the diversity in the teachers at the studio – each teacher brings their own special flair to the practice that makes each trip to the mat a new beautiful experience – different challenges, different strengths, all contributing a fun piece to my yoga journey puzzle.
- Wednesday 7:30 p.m., Hatha II, Zelinda: Class #28 - Zelinda was in a silly mood tonight and was full of hilarious little quips that kept us giggling throughout class. We did some serious hip work, so the laughter breaks were quite welcome. Zelinda was the first person to tell me that the hips are the “junk drawer” of the body, and deep hip work can bring emotions to the surface. I have definitely been on the emotional side of the spectrum lately, and honestly the hip work was just what I needed. We spent a good deal of time in pigeon. The work was strenuous, but less in a cardiovascular way and more in a pose deepening, soul touching kind of way.
- Thursday 6:15 p.m., Hatha II, Randy: Class #29 - I was pretty distracted during this class (had a heated discussion with someone just prior that had me all riled up). Randy can be quite talkative, and usually I appreciate his insight into the poses, but tonight I just couldn’t focus on what he was saying so I let my mind wander and focused on really bringing strength to each pose. We did a lot of flow work which was a welcome distraction from my running mind. When he asked if we wanted to set an intention, the first word that came to mind was forgiveness, followed quickly by restraint. I kept coming back to the idea of restraint (of my words and of my mind), and by the end of class I was much more relaxed and much less wound up.
- Friday 5 p.m., Hatha I, Beth: Class #30 – In what felt like the most fitting way to end the challenge, tonight’s class was all about support. We practiced various poses using the support of the wall, my favorite being side plank. With my feet braced against the wall I could really support myself well and get my top hip sky high. We also partnered up for several poses and stretches, my favorite of which was The Rack – one person lied flat on their back on the floor with a person standing at their head and another standing at their feet. The person on the floor grasped the ankles of the person by their head, and that person walked back until a stretch was felt along the side body. Then, the person at the feet grabbed the ankles of the person on the floor, raised their legs a couple inches off the ground, and provided a bit of gentle traction. It felt SO GOOD. Having felt supported by so many through my yoga challenge journey, this class brought perfect finality to the end of the challenge.
I can’t believe the challenge has come and gone! First and foremost, I am proud of myself for completing it. I often start things without finishing them, so the simple fact that I actually made it happen makes me feel amazing. I feel dedicated and committed, and I hope to carry that feeling into my continuing practice. I’m especially proud too considering the obstacles that arose – my car breaking down, being sick for a week; despite these hindrances, I persevered to meet my goal.
I truly feel like a different person, inside and out. I feel stronger physically, for sure. I can see and feel that my arms and legs have better muscle definition, and I can sustain poses longer and with more control than before. I feel that my overall structure has been affected on a very deep level as well – that my hips can achieve a greater sense of openness, as well as my shoulders; that my chest is able to achieve better expansion in breath and that I stand taller.
The mental aspect of yoga cannot be denied as well, and I have really developed a greater understanding and connection between my body and my mind. I am more conscious of my body and what its doing – little voices in my head constantly reminding me to sit up straight, tuck my tail bone, open my shoulders, pull my chin back; I have achieved a greater sense of alignment.
I am a highly emotional person, and the challenge definitely played a part in accentuating some strong emotions I’ve been dealing with lately and really brought them to the surface. I have been really down about my dad and some other personal issues I’ve had to face, but rather than bury those emotions inside and try to hide from them, they are at the forefront of my mind. Some days that meant simply acknowledging those emotions were there even though I didn’t actively choose to deal with them at that moment (last Saturday was a good example – I watched Hoarders and Intervention on Netflix most of the day – I know, super inspirational programming right there; I trimmed the dogs’ toenails and called it a productive day), I still had to recognize them for what they were instead of ignoring them. I truly believe this has kept me from falling into a full-fledged depression – that’s powerful stuff. I am still working through some things now, but I know that with time I will gain the clarity I seek. This too shall pass.
Another aspect of the challenge I came to greatly appreciate is the sense of community and camaraderie it invoked among my fellow yogis at the studio. As we all attended class together night after night, it was inevitable that we would begin to grow closer. We all encouraged each other and patted each other on the back, and I have made some lovely friends that I look forward to getting to know even better. The studio’s morale has always been high, but there is a buzzing energy that can’t be denied contained within those walls – it is really special. The Yoga Room is a safe haven, a place without judgement and with beautiful acceptance, and each practice is an opportunity to garner love and beauty and truth in spirit, that I try to harness and carry with me and pass onto others.
I would like to extend a huge thank you to the instructors for their unique approaches and consistent guidance, to my fellow yogis for the energy and spirit they so willingly share, and to everyone who was so incredibly supportive of me (in life and in the challenge) during this time.
I am truly grateful for this experience. My passion for yoga is ever-growing, and this challenge has ignited an even deeper fire within me to continue to pursue my practice, to approach each trip to the mat with an open mind and an open heart.
Namaste.
<3 C
