So last week, I did Lynn’s #7daysofyoga challenge. And I loved it. I credit my yoga practice for pulling me out of my emotional and physical funk. I’ve been doing yoga here and there for years, ever since I bought my first yoga book way back in 2001. In the last few years, though, I’ve steered toward the aggressive yoga, the calorie burning yoga. I’d forgotten about the relaxing, centering yoga. I fell in love with yoga this week thanks to the free 20-minute classes at yogadownload. And, since you know me, you know that I’ll share the bullet points of what I’ve learned from yoga. I’d hate to disappoint, so here you go.

• Yoga keeps me focused on the moment. No regrets about the past and no worries about the future. It’s all about my breath and the pose. Taking those thoughts through the day have also helped me think about food in the same way – to think about food in the now and not let myself think that food will change the regrets or the worries.
• Yoga keeps me focused on what I can do in this moment. Unlike running, I don’t compare what I’m doing now to what I used to be able to do. I don’t think about how long until I’m able to accomplish my long term goals. I just do the pose. In the moment. I’m not thinking about what comes next or how long until I’m able to get the pose to the next level because I don’t know. I do what I can. And I trust my body to challenge itself.
• I am able to notice the little improvements. It’s not about how many reps I can do or the distance I can go, the changes are much more subtle. Like how the bend in my knees is getting less when I put my hands on the floor. Or how my butt touches the floor in child’s pose when it didn’t for the first several days. Yoga strides come in baby steps, and there’s something to be said for taking notice of small improvements. It’s so motivating.
• I am giving myself permission to try – and to fail. I’m used to the Bob and Jillian style of aggressive yoga. Unfortunately, though, that kept me within my comfort zone. I didn’t realize I was doing this, but I learned this about myself. When I was doing the high-energy videos and  I knew I had to hold a pose for a long time, I kept it safe. I challenged myself, but I knew I wouldn’t fall over. When the practice is focused and encouraging, I find that I do push myself harder, I get my arm as far over my head as I can. I bend as far as I possibly can. Because I know that if I fall over or lose my balance, I just try again. I don’t feel like I’m cheating or failing. It’s a practice of effort, not of repetitions. I like that.
• But more than anything, yoga has taught me the joy of letting everything go. If I think outside of the pose, if I start to worry or regret, I fall over. It’s that simple. I have to let everything go. And it’s amazing to get totally lost in my body and the space it’s taking up. Yoga helped me get centered, to realize what is important, to just get inside my head and actually listen to what’s going on in there. And helping me let go of what I don’t need to hold on to.

We’ll see what I learn from 30 Day Shred this month. 3 days down!