It’s been far too long since I wrote. It’s because it’s been far too long since I practiced! Then a conversation with my best friend about yoga and a subsequent IT outage at work led me back to my mat again on Wednesday afternoon. It wasn’t my usual time or location (our spare bedroom…I prefer the gym or at least the living room) but that was my opportunity, so I took it. I took up a little spot in front of my mirror, set up some music on my phone and simply went where my practice took me. I hadn’t planned anything as I wasn’t intending to do any yoga that day (read: this week) so I did whatever popped into my head.
I did have a time limit but I tried not to focus on that as I find if I do, it makes me rush, it makes the session feel stilted, uncomfortable and then I feel frustrated that it didn’t feel good. I must have only done 15 poses but I took my time with them and tried to focus on my technique. Although I did create heat, that wasn’t my primary goal, I favoured strength this time. I’m still having to work hard at looking after my tummy and my knees so getting the right muscles to fire to a) look after them and b) make them stronger was really important to me.
I’m exceptionally lucky too, I have lots of snowboarding coming up this winter so making sure I am as strong as I can be for that is a real concern. I’ll give you an example:
My body isn’t the same as before I was pregnant. I love it just the same, more even because of the gift it gave me with little girl, but it can’t quite handle things in the same ways as before. I have to take extra care of it, but I’m OK with that, I apply that approach to the rest of my life too. Or at least I try to.
What next?
This cheeky, unexpected session reminded me again how much I love yoga; from feeling the warm sun on me through the window to that lovely ‘post exercise ache’ that I felt the following day. Another chat with my best friend (thanks lady) and I came up with a little idea, a way to motivate myself and possibly other to make yoga part of daily life. I’m an eternal optimist, I love positivity. It genuinely makes my life happier, and I hope it brings the odd ray of happiness to others. I’ve been in sad places, and I don’t suggest that looking on the bright side during those times would have made them better, but now those times are over, being positive casts off those shadows, it helps remove fear and worry about things that have passed or that I can’t change. I like being positive because it makes me a happy person, friend, wife and most importantly, a happy mummy.
Stop-tober has passed and No-vember doesn’t really fit my mind-set; instead I will be having Yes-vember. Yes-vember is a month of daily practice. It doesn’t matter if it’s for 10 mins or 90 minutes, but it will be at least 1 sun salutation long! I decided that a little accountability would be motivating so have asked my friends to join me, if you would like to join me too please like my page on Facebook New Page Living found here https://www.facebook.com/newpageliving/
It’s free and just for fun, but on New Page Living I will post a range of videos, written plans, top tips, progress updates and lovely quotes that help keep me on track throughout the month. It’s completely flexible too, everything is for you to do with as you wish. Say…
Yes to 30 days
Yes to good health
Yes to a calm mind
Yes to yoga
Yes to happiness
Nameste x