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Have you signed up to a 30 Day Yoga Challenge? Or a fitness challenge?
We are only a few days into the new year and there is a frenzy going on. Fitness challenges, yoga challenges, meditation challenges - or maybe this is what I get targeted with on the internet!
I am part of a Yoga With Adriene Facebook Group. A new 30 day yoga challenge has began and a lot of people who
are new to yoga have started it. I used to do Adriene's videos a lot before I completed my teacher training, including a few yoga challenges.
The ONLY 30 day challenge I managed to do fully was when I was not working. I had quit my job just before Christmas and had a month before I flew to Costa Rica to do my Yoga Teacher Training.
Every other challenge I tried to do in the new year I would usually get to the half way point and then feel exhausted by the whole thing.
So when I was having a little scroll this morning on Facebook I came across a few comments including this one -
'I struggled with yesterdays video. I didn't know the poses so found it really hard to to listen and get in the right place and keep up. My shoulders are sore and my back hurts. I want to keep going but I don't think this 30 day challenge is for me. I feel I have committed to myself to do yoga. What yoga I do shouldn't really matter as long as I give it a go each day.'
It's the 3rd Jan, so day 3 of the challenge and this person is already feeling defeated.
I may be preaching to the choir here but...
If you have decided to do something new this January such as a new exercise or yoga challenge or program then please remember this -
1. Any new movement is new to your body. A new stimulus is likely to give you some feedback in the form of aches etc. This is normal!
Oh my - I went to the gym on New Years Day. I did the same kind of thing I usually do... but I haven't done it for a month. So I went a little easier to adapt but still had some aches the next day.
Give your body time to adjust.
2. A 30 day challenge or program is not designed for you as an individual
They are generically designed programs.
This doesn't mean that there isn't huge benefit to them HOWEVER this also means that they are not going to cater for everyone in the exact same way.
For example - for me signing up to a 30 day vinyasa yoga challenge - I will feel the change but it's likely that I won't feel too sore because many the movements are conditioned for me.
The same 30 day yoga challenge could grab the attention of Linda, late 40s, 2 children who walks a lot but is new to yoga. This is going to be a completely different experience for her. Many of the movements will be completely new with her body responding to them.
So if you try a yoga or fitness challenge - remember this.
You haven't failed if this generic programming doesn't suit you, your body or your life.
These challenges wouldn't have the same marketing punch if it was - try this 52 week yoga challenge. Once a week for a year to sustainably build a yoga practice that works for your life.
Most people would get more benefit from this... but we all have the attention span of a goldfish these days and everyone wants the result in half the time without any effort. Not everyone I know! Many people..! There has been some interesting research into our declining attention span and ability to focus.
3. Focus on recovery
When we are exposing our body to new stimulus then the body has to do a lot more recovery. Better recovery means less aches. Less aches means you move around your day with more ease and you're more likely to do the next day of the challenge or program you're signed up to.
How to support optimal recovery?
- Hydration - water, water, water!
- Sleep - 7-9 hours
- Nutrition
- Refrain from alcohol - this massively impacts your recovery!
For some people the goal of 365 days of yoga works. Some people start this with a 30 day challenge but everyone is different.
And remember - these are yoga asana practices. Movements, shapes and flows. Yoga is so much more than that. You can do yoga without movement.
I teach yoga - I love it! But I don't want to do 365 asana practices a year thank you.
For me variety works - I like a walk, a workout, a dance AND yoga asana for movement.
I love lying down and being guided through a yoga nidra practice.
I love a 5 minute breath practice
You are unique. Your life is unique and therefore your yoga is unique.
A big part of our yoga practice is about adapting to you, your body, your life. Being kind to yourself and choosing the path that nurtures.
Yoga and fitness is a collaboration with ourselves. Not to bully our body into shapes or poses. Not to bully our body to do a schedule that is too aggressive for where we are right now.
Only you can decide that. We don't always get it right. I did a workout in Bali and went to hard - my legs were so sore for 3 days. My body wasn't conditioned for that level of intensity! I was walking funny and it was not enjoyable walking up and down steps! Would it have been better if I did a less intense workout? Yes, but hey ho, we can't get it right all the time. And that's ok.
If you're feeling sore - focus on recovery!
Have you signed up to a challenge this January? I'd love to hear from you
Katt x
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