30 Days of Yoga Challenge

This is my first time doing yoga. I wanted to do this challenge to keep my body and mind healthy during the lockdown. It was very challenging and I am so happy I completed this yoga challenge. I think I attempted a class before but gave up too easy. So here is my journey. I hope you enjoy and thank you for reading my yoga journal.

Day 1

April 2020

Feeling pain in ribcage area. Shoulder pain and neck pain. More tight than pain. Feeling tired after completing day 1. My palms hurt as well. My mind kept wondering and I wanted it to end. Feeling proud of my accomplishment. I had a craving for protein shake right after. Feeling good and positive. 

Day 2

Feeling sore from yesterday but stronger. More sweat involved and heart rate when up. I feel more energy. I feel good.

Day 3

I skipped a day but I continue today. I was sore yesterday. Today was great. Feeling stronger and my balance and strength are getting better. I also feel good. I look forward to getting better with flexibility and strengthening my muscles. I am also enjoying opening up parts of the body for oxygen and breath. I also enjoy the yoga poses. 

Day 4

April 26, 2020

I skipped another day but continue today. I skipped yesterday because it was my birthday. Today’s yoga was lower back focus. It was really great and my heart rate went up. I sweated  and felt really great. My body is feeling stronger. I feel good and happy to complete day 4.

Day 5

April 28, 2020

Good Morning! I decided to go yoga in the morning. I got the heart rate up and sweated and was using my breath more today. Feeling so good and actually I am feeling more than good I’m feeling great! This morning I had neck and shoulder stiffness but after yoga I feel better. My whole body feels so warmed up and ready to face the day. Time for a protein shake! 

Day 6

Abs! Not my favourite but I did most of it. Might go on the treadmill today. *didn’t go on the treadmill. 

Day 7 

May 1st, 2020

Wowza! Today was a workout! I sweated and my heart rate was up. In the beginning my mind was on a checklist of things I had to do for the day but half way through my mind was focusing on my breath and being in the moment. Feeling the muscles working on my arms and feeling the heart beating is so amazing. I am feeling truly amazing. Now that I am writing this I’m crying because it feels also good and connected to the body, breath and heart. I feel so strong and good. Only 7 days and I feel so much stronger then the first day. I am so proud of my self. 

LOVE ❤️  STRENGTH  ❤️ DETERMINATION

In the beginning I would do the yoga in the afternoon and I’ve changed it to the morning. It feels better this way. I’m listening to my body and I’m very pleased that I focus on “ME” I won’t lie the voice in side my head in the beginning said “I don’t want and I don’t feel like doing this” I switched this mind set to “it feels amazing during and after the lesson”. I’m working on enjoying the process more and not thinking only about the end. 

NAMASTE ❤️ 

Day 8

May 3rd, 2020

During this session of meditative yoga I cried. My mind chatter was so much. At the beginning I thought about everything I needed to do for the day. By the middle of the yoga I was connected to breath and body. My mind was in sink with breath and body and in the moment. By the end of today’s session I was so relaxed and calm. I skipped yesterday because my abs were still hurting and I didn’t like doing it to be honest. I enjoy one day on and one dy off. I’m enjoying doing yoga in the mornings and I open the window and hear the birds as well. It’s so peaceful. 

Day 9 

I skipped a day. Sweat sweat sweat! I didn’t want to do yoga today. I was dreading it. But I forced my self to do it. I am really proud of my self. I worked on some balance today. I really like the teacher that teaches this yoga. There are some things about my body that get in the way of my yoga experience that I am finding annoying and want to work on. My belly fat and the baby pouch right bellow the belly. So irritating for me. Anyhow it’s great to figure somethings out as I’m going through this journey. 

Day 10

10 Minute video today. I skipped yesterday. I’ve been doing one day on and one day off. I am feeling good. Focused on flow and breath. I bought a new yoga mat from amazon. I like it because it helps cushion my knees and hands. I like the mat. So far it’s great! 

Day 11

Feeling good today. I enjoyed the class. By the end of the class I could feel the oxygen and blood flow through my entire body. My breath and heart as well. The only thing I didn’t like is me in biking shorts! I’m sticking to tights. 

Day 12

Happy Mother’s Day! Today yoga felt short. Worked on spine and balance. I’m enjoying the challenge so much. Feeling good. I would like to do more cardio. This is a good sign. 

Day 13

May 11th, 2020

A great yoga class today. It felt great to stretch and strengthen. Simple and short and to the point. Feeling the back and lower back. Opening up and strengthening. I’m also seeing and feeling my posture changing and alignment is better. My stomach area/core feels better as well. 

Day 14

May 13, 2020

I enjoyed today’s yoga. I didn’t sweat as much but great stretches and breathing. I added stretches for the abs as well. Feeling good. I would like to focus more and concentrate on each movement and take my time. 

Day 15

May 15th, 2020

Worked up a sweat! Half moon pose was difficult but I leaned on furniture to help me focus and work of my balance. I enjoyed today. Breathing was fantastic and heart was pumping. Blood pumping all over the body. The half moon positions work on strength and balance. My legs were shaking but feeling good. 

Day 16

May 19th, 2020

I missed too many days in between but I’m back at it. Day 16. My mind wasn’t into it. I didn’t want to do today’s class. I was frustrated with my self. Half way into the yoga my feelings changed. I started feeling good and I also did side planks! SO COOL! I am very proud of my self for getting through my mental block and doing it. YAS! GO GIRL!

Day 17

May 21, 2020

The stretching felt really great today. My body felt like it needed a great stretch. My body feels stronger. I also enjoy the heart rate going up and the connection to breathing. I loved today’s focus on the alignment of the spine and back. Feeling good. I would like to be more flexible and I know this will come in time. 

Day 18 & 19

Day 18 I forgot to document my yoga. 

Day 19 the focus was on breathing, stretching and strengthening. Movement with breath. A balance of both. Not too heavy but very good class. I did this in the morning. I will be doing one more class in the afternoon with my hubby hopefully. I feel good to do 2 classes in one day. Lets see how this goes. 

*Class with hubby was funny. He was making me laugh through the entire thing. Lol 😝 not doing that again! lol

Day 20

May 27th, 2020

Today felt really great. I worked up a sweat. Worked on movement, breathing and strength. I was able to concentrate more and be in the moment.

FOCUS AND IN THE MOMENT

I am finding I am stronger and my body is firming up in areas like arms, legs and stomach. 

Day 21

May 28th, 2020

Today I worked on strength and breathing. Worked on alignment and being aware of the body. I was more in the moment than any other day. Overall my body enjoyed the stretching and. Breathing. Deep breathing and very grateful. 

Day 22

May 31st, 2020

I would like this week coming up to be more consistent. Today I didn’t want to do yoga. I am feeling down. This COVID Lockdown is getting to me. I’m trying to stay positive. It is so hard. That being said today for yoga I was very impressed with all the poses and strength. I would like to do yoga everyday this week and stop missing every other day. Feeling some leg, wrist and knee pain. I will be fine and I am all good. 

Day 23

June 1st, 2020

I didn’t feel like doing yoga today but I actually enjoyed it. Working more of the arms today. I’m going to try and do yoga everyday this week. 

Day 24

June 2nd, 2020

Working the hips and stretches for the hips. Short yoga class today. 

Day 25

June 3rd, 2020

Today I wanted to do yoga. 

Yes you read that right. I usually say I don’t want to do yoga and then I force my self to do the yoga. At this point on day 24 I’m WANTING to do more yoga. I enjoy every second of stretching and breathing. I look forward to this for the rest of my life. I really love yoga and I really feel so much stronger than the beginning. Yoga has strengthen by body and mind in so many ways. I am so happy and I really want to increase my fitness levels. I would never say that prior to starting this journey. I feel very good and happy. 

Day 26 & 27

June 5th, 2020

I did 2 classes today. I felt like I could go for it. I feel good and stronger. I would like to work with more balance and extend my stretches more. I also would like to increase yoga to 2 times daily. Observations: my belly gets in the way of doing some stretches but it is getting better than before. I feel good, positive and refreshed. 

Day 28

June 6th, 2020

Heart rate up! Sweat! Sooooo good! Feeling great! A little pain in the wrists. Worked the core as well. Working the breathing with movement. Flow of movement with breathing. Feels really great. I feel less stressed. When I do yoga I feel more release of tensions and stress. I can see why people go to yoga retreats. It must be so stress free. Not sure if I will do another class today. Feeling great. 

Day 29

June 8th, 2020

I can’t believe I am on day 29! Feeling great, strong and connected to my breath and body. I feel amazing when I am stretching and embrace everything about each movement. I feel good while I’m doing the yoga. I no longer have the feeling of not wanting to do it. I can’t wait to continue this journey and do another 30 days!

Day 30!!!!

June 9th 2020

I cried! Today’s class made me cry a little. It was a little too fast paced for me but I really enjoyed it. I have some arm, neck and back tightness but I’m going to continue tomorrow with another 30 days. Since I started this challenge I feel more connected with my body and breath. I feel stronger as well. I feel this is only the beginning of my journey. This is the first time ever doing yoga and I love it so much. 

I feel this challenge is not about weight loss for me. My relationship with yoga is about my body alinement, breathing, heart, strength and being present in space and time. It’s about stretching and releasing tension and strengthening the mind and body. This journey is about letting go of stress and anxiety. It’s about getting to know my body better and giving my body the care and love. I am really happy with this 30 day challenge and proud of my self. I look forward to the next 30 days. I will continue to share my journey with you. 

Before starting this challenge I was in a lot of pain and I was weak. I did not have any muscle and sometimes I would move and pull parts of my body without even doing anything. It really scared me. I can now tell you that I am no longer like that! I feel so strong in my legs, arms back and wrists. I can sit cross legged without pain and my arms don’t hurt when I do downward dog position. My lower back doesn’t have pain anymore. I can also tell you that sleeping has become so much better. 

 I would like to work more on extending my stretches and lengthening my body. I would like to learn new positions and also revisit the ones I just learned. I would like to be more flexible and work my core more. I would like to release stress and tension. I look forward to connecting my breathing and movement more. I am so proud of my self. Yoga has helped me so much. My body now craves stretches and I have found enjoyment in each movement and flow. Yes there were times when I didn’t want to do the class but I forced my self to do it. I am so happy I did. I skipped days but continued the very next day and have completed the 30 days. I am so proud of my self. 

Thank you so much to Adriene Mishler. Her videos have inspired me and helped me so much. I look forward to the next 30 day challenge.