Yoga is not a practice that came automatically for me. I had dabbled in it for a few years while in college, and although I found it physically challenging, the spiritual aspect of the practice was one that never resonated with me. I would find myself cringing at the meditative guidance, hoping for it to pass quickly so that I could continue my “workout”. But that’s just it, yoga is spirit, it has a spirit – while the health benefits and exercise factor are huge bonuses, yoga does not have its essence in 80’s high energy workout vibes. I was not ready for yoga at the time, something that I have only now come to recognize and that I believe truly influences your perspective on the practice. It was not my age that detracted me from appreciating the practice, it was the reflection of where I was in my life.

Fast forward to the present. I don’t know if it should be called a coincidence or not, but after years of accumulating dust in a closet, I thoughtlessly grabbed my yoga mat and restarted my work on the mat without intention. I was undoubtedly stiff, but my body remembered, it felt hungry to move, to stretch, to sit in discomfort. I left feeling instantly addicted – my body had been satisfied, and my mind felt calm. I found myself returning to the mat day after day and wanting when I skipped days. I began to notice anxiousness filling up in my body, eagerness to begin again and to push myself. More importantly, the calm in my mind felt like a peaceful quiet that filled me up with stillness; almost trance, I was disconnected from the world with focus solely for my breath, limbs, and muscles. Something simply clicked like automatic meditation.

Yoga is called a practice because that’s exactly what it is – a practice, something you must practice. As a call for myself to deepen a yoga presence in my life, I challenge myself to be on my mat every day for the month of February 2020. It’s a small movement, a moment, a withdrawal from the outside noise, and a call to action. As part of the challenge, I proposed to myself that I might document my daily movements on the mat. Aside from vacation photos or memorable life events, I’ve never filmed myself, or documented my life in an intimate way, but I want to change that for this challenge. If you missed out on Yoganuary, because you were too busy with Veganuary, then join me on this wave.

See you on the mat #flowfebruary