365 Days of Yoga

I set an intention to do 365 consecutive days of yoga in 2011. That sounds like an extreme goal to many. But most days I count a 10 minute yoga session as a full practice. Other days I can do 20 - 30 minutes. And once or twice a week I can do a full hour. I'm 29 days in, and I feel great.

Even though yoga is "my job" it is challenging for me to find the time to practice for myself / by myself daily. My schedule is busy too, and in my down time its much easier to get lost on Twitter, Facebook, a magazine or TV. Next thing you know an hour can slip by. Taking 10 minutes a day for yoga is totally doable FOR EVERYONE. You can complete 10 Sun Salutations in less time than it takes you to make your morning coffee - And the energy you will feel will astound you.

What's the number one reason you don't do yoga? No time, right? If you are an athlete, your training time is likely focused on strength, speed, and endurance. You can find time to strength train for an hour and run for two hours on a Saturday morning, but taking the time to stretch for 3 minutes is often a challenge. We are time crunched and juggling a lot, so stretching is the first thing to go because we don't feel like we get "results" from stretching (like increased speed, muscle tone or even weight loss).

But truly you will get all those results and more by doing yoga and stretching regularly! Your speed and strength will increase as your range of motion increases. Think of a rubber band... The more elastic it is and the futher you stretch it, the further it goes and the more power when its released. And how do you think your performance will be on race day if you're overtrained or sidelined with an injury? Could your weight loss efforts possibly be improved by reducing stress? Studies show absolutely YES. It has to do with cortisol, the stress hormone which can make it harder to lose weight.

I could go on and on about the benefits and why you should be doing yoga and stretching daily. But you already know it, and can find articles in every publication these days. And whether you're an athlete or a new mom, Yoga has probably been "on your list" for a while. So, what's stopping you? If you're waiting for the perfect time to begin, you have to make the time. There is always an excuse.

All you need is 10 minutes and an open space. You really don't even need a yoga mat. And your body is your equipment so there is nothing to buy. Above is a link to Sun Salutation B. I hope you'll try it with me! And keep me posted on your progress...

Join me for 10 minutes of Yoga - Try Sun Salutation B