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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

March YOGA Madness


Maybe it's the date on the calendar. March 1st already. Already! Reminding me that time continues to click away.

Or it's the fact that the snow has almost completely melted and the sun is blazing promising a high of 46 degrees. Giving Chicagoans that Spring feeling. That time-to-get-exercising-again feeling. That bathing-suit-season-is-just-around-the-corner feeling.

Or perhaps it's the fact that my little baby is now over 17 pounds and I feel that added weight in my body. In my shoulders, my arms, my lower back.

Likely it's a combination of it all.

But no matter the reason, last night before collapsing into bed feeling my age in my joints, it hit me.

I need yoga.

I need to get back in touch with my body.

I need to breathe.

I need to nurture myself.

I need to take time out of my day - even if only for 10 minutes - to breathe, stretch and check-in with my body.

I need yoga.

My Month of Yoga
So for the entire month of March I am committing to doing yoga every single day.

Every day.

Every single day.

Without skipping.

Without excuses.

Yoga once a day every day for at least ten minutes.

I know... ten minutes doesn't sound like much. But it's so much better than nothing. And if I commit to ten minutes, it's more than likely those ten minutes will stretch into something longer.

Ten minutes isn't intimidating.

And it's enough for at least a few sun salutations.

My goal is an hour a day. But there are some days that it's too challenging to carve out that hour. So at the very least it's ten minutes.

I'm really excited about this. I can't remember the last time I exercised every single day for a month without fail. I'm looking forward to having a conversation with my body again. And getting to know each other. I expect to be good friends by the end of the month.

The cost of doing yoga
Yoga classes are not in our budget.
And neither is a gym membership.
That means I'll be practicing yoga at home. Luckily I already have a mat and yoga blocks.
But that's it. I mean, I don't have any yoga DVDs.
So this is where I could use some help.

If there are any Yogis out there reading this... could you please recommend your favorite (beginner) poses to do if you only had ten minutes to practice?

Also, any online sources for Yoga inspiration?

Thank you so much! I'll be checking back in with my progress.

And lastly, does anyone out there want to join me?

Please talk to me in the comments below!

Happy March 1st, everyone!

Love,
Steph

(the above image is from yogawonders.com)

11 Comments:

babychef said...

YES! YES! and YES! I absolutely do. I can probably still go to a class@NU and even a couple@the Y (but I let my membership lapse). My problem is not the class, but since I'm working F/T, if I went after work, I would get home too late. I have been really super achy & keep saying I have to go, but even figuring it out on the weekends is tough. So I'd LOVE to do this with you. Yay! Sorry so long.

And I LOVE downward dog, tree, and my favorite..pigeon (and childs/prayer pose).

If you have cable, I have watched yoga on demand (free) and I'm sure you can find something online as well. XO.

Cece said...

Oooooooo, I am joining you! Notice, I didn't say "want to", "hope to", "will, maybe". I AM joining you. Happy March 1st! Thanks for the inspiration, Steph.

Love in the Time of Foreclosure said...

I like the distinction, Cece. I should have written: "Who's joining me?" Instead of "Who wants to join me." Big difference. You're totally right.

NJD said...

don't forget the library - I am sure you can check out a DVD or two.

Love in the Time of Foreclosure said...

NJD-
THE LIBRARY! Duh. I don't know why I didn't think of that. I obviously haven't been taking advantage of the library. Haven't even gotten my Chicago Public Library card. I wonder if my old one still exists. Hmmm. Will rectify this today! Thanks for the comment.

Pranoga said...

Sun Salutation (up to 12)
Single Leg Raises (6 on each side)
Double Leg Raises (up to 10)
Dolphin (if time permits - up to 10)

Hope this helps, and all the best!

Chi-town Southerner said...

Most yoga studios also offer free yoga in exchange for helping out around the studio. I think it's a way to keep the good karma flowing. I would just call around.

I also found this blog which lists a bunch of studios around Chicago that offer free or pay what you can classes:

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/breath-body-balance/2010/03/free-community-yoga-classes.html

5thchakra said...

Great idea! It's so helpful to do just what you said: breathe, stretch, and check in with your body.

You can be creative about it. http://www.domarcenter.com/blog/2011/02/the-art-of-meditation/

Or, if you're looking for more structure, Yoga Journal posts a bunch of free podcasts: http://www.yogajournal.com/podcast/

Enjoy. I'll look forward to reading about your progress!

Alicia said...

a comment on the Library...I just started using it this year after 4 years of living in Chicago! I go to the website, search for a DVD or CD, and then request a hold...then the library emails me to tell me it's ready to pick up :) It's great if you don't want to spend hours searching through the Library for what you need

andrew said...

I agree with the idea of trading. We trade help around the studio with things for yoga all the time at be yoga http://beyogaandwellness.com
I recommend that you try YouTube and do a search for 'Yoga' or 'Yoga for beginners' and you will find some terrific resources there. Yoga will change your life and decrease the time between thought and action...always a useful thing regardless of your objectives or passions.

Anonymous said...

A friend has told me about your blog. I am a yoga instructor in LA. And I admire your courage!! Your blog is a gift.
Here is a little meditation you might try. It's about connecting with the Divine energy in the world, so that you never run out of energy :-)
Sit comfortably, hands on thighs, palms facing upwards, thumb and index finger touching, inhale and think OM, exhale and think OM, etc etc. When thoughts come up, let them float away, don't stick to them, let them go, and go back to OM OM OM. Just for a few minutes.
I love this one, because it is very relaxing. Let me know what happened when you tried it!

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