30 Days of Yoga

30 days of yoga has come and gone.  When I started, I was sure that there would be a countdown.  Like one if those big easel pads of paper where you tear off the 25 to reveal the 24 underneath.  Maybe a desire to celebrate "10 more to go!"   But that's not what happened. Time flew by. 

Making time for this practice meant finding time in an already busy schedule.  For me, it meant waking up earlier.  I thought for sure that it would get really tiresome. But, it didn't. I very quickly established a new routine. 5:45 wake up. Walk the dog. Make lunches. Escape to my own personal yoga retreat.  Start the day smiling.

 There were days and times that were challenging. Days when I skipped the morning and found time in the evening.  There was the Saturday that I was so busy, I forgot altogether until 10pm after eating pizza. In contrast, there were other days when I forgot that I had already practiced in the morning and found myself inadvertently gearing up for round 2.

As the 30 days drew to a close, I began to feel a sense if impending loss.  A rise in anxiety, as if something precious was ending. This was a sweet time of reflection and growth, but I've come to understand that the end was really the beginning of something else.

One of the principles we explore when we practice yoga is renunciation.  During this 30 day growth spurt, I renounced the idea that yoga is merely a hobby for me. I renounced the idea that I practice solely for physical benefit. And, I renounced the notion that I don't have time to dive into this practice more fully.

All of that renunciation made room for the beautiful routines that have become my everyday.

Namaste.