I did it!
For 66 days in a row I tried to build a routine of daily exercise and I succeeded!
In this time I’ve done 89 rounds of sun salutations, 41 yoga classes and 15 runs totalling 87.14Km; managing to exercise on all but 4 days.
Does it feel like a routine now? Kind of. I suppose as I haven’t exercised at the same time every day that’s perhaps why I still feel like I don’t have total ownership of it. But, am I seeking exercise everyday? Yes I think that I actually am – finally.
I’m enjoying the results, I feel better mentally and physically. I know that if I have a plan for the week ahead then I can schedule my exercise in which makes it more acheiveable.
Over the last 66 days I have made exercise a priority and to do so I have had to shift in my mindset which has involved me eating well, stepping away from drinking alcohol and ensuring I get enough sleep, as hangovers, social events and tiredness tend to be my go to excuses.
Creating a habit over 66 days does seem to work, and the real test comes in whether I maintain a routine going forwards.
I’m also aware that doing the 30-day yoga challenge within the 66-day challenge meant my running has not been as consistent as I would like it to be. So from here I need to find a better balance.
My aim is to work to a minimum number of yoga classes and runs per week.
Each week (Monday -Sunday) I’m going to aim for 3 runs and 4 yoga classes. I would also like to get into the gym for more weight training if I can.
On day 66, Tuesday, I was on the yoga retreat and we had a flow class in the morning. The flow class was about 2 hours long and it felt wonderful. My yoga journey started with Bikram and in relative terms I am fairly new to flow. Over the last year I have started to do more and it’s a great supplement to Bikram; focussing on hip opening and other complimentary postures which feature less in the Bikram method.
In the evening we had a yin class planned, but I didn’t attend. Arriving at the retreat we met the other yogis and of the 6 of us there was only one lady I hadn’t ever seen before. The others I recognised from my yoga studio or I am friends with from previous yoga retreats. It was a lovely group of women with a similar love of yoga, meditation and an interest in energy healing work.
For me there is something a bit sacred about retreats where each person is on their own journey, has their own intentions for their week yet the group energy somehow aligns. There becomes a kindness, closeness and unity between us which allows us to be open and honest and I find that incredibly therapeutic.
On the Tuesday night one of the people who worked at the resort we were staying at decided to come to the yin class, and it just made me feel uncomfortable which is why I didn’t go. I hadn’t anticipated that situation arising so wasn’t psychologically prepared for it and so my natural reaction was to withdraw.
I think it was partly that the person was not one of the retreat yogis, that it was an unknown male in a group of women practicing in an intimate group in a small space. It just didn’t feel good to me so I went to my room for an early night.
One of the girls commented that yoga is for everyone and said that when we normally go to our yoga studio we don’t know who will be there and although she was right in principle, when I go to my normal studio I am expecting strangers. In this environment I wasn’t expecting it after the initial meeting of the other yogis. I had already met the group and began a process of unwinding and connecting with them and with myself so I felt it was only appropriate to honour how I felt but also to not deny the guy the opportunity to practice a yoga class.
I guess I tried to find compassion for him but tried not to lose compassion for myself at the same time.
my happy life project 