Saturday 15 October, 2005

Half-way point

15 down, 15 to go.

I can't believe I'm finally at the half-way point of the 30-day yoga challenge. This week has been tough - Monday was pure pain, Thursday was a total disaster, but Friday was a winner. The class was full, but Shannon turned two first rows 180 degrees, so everyone was facing each other - it must have been the first time I've been in a "back row". Somehow it worked though - the room was full of incredible energy, and I ended up having the best practice of the week.

I try to take the weekends easy - today I went to hatha (which was ok, but nothing spectacular) and tomorrow it's yin... then back to flow again. I'm pretty confident now though that I can do this, unless I injure myself (which is always a possiblity when you train this intensively).

Some psychologists say it takes about three weeks to form a habit - but I think I can achieve a routine a lot quicker than that, normally under two weeks. It takes planning - but planning is what I do well, I do it so automatically I don't even have to think about it. First week I just pick out the classes I want to go to, then plan out the "early" evenings so that I can go shopping and do cooking, select meals so that leftovers can be eaten on the "late" evenings. Plan laundry so that I have clean yoga clothes for the whole week, then just pack everything in the mornings and go with the flow - the second week is already routine.

(And I don't know why I'm writing this down... I find it unlikely that anyone else will find it of any interest... but it's actually more likely that I need to remind myself in the future.)

Posted by kolibri at 15 October 22:07, 2005
Comments
# 1 - Jaana-Mari (on October 15, 2005 11:56 PM):

On a similar note, here´s my system. Now that I´ve decided to make time for my health, again, the shopping was the first step. Nothing that I actualy needed, purely for motivational and marking purposes. A container for my fruits at work, fabric for a new gym bag, a tiny purse for my gym card, windbreaker pants and jacket for the trips between home and gym, various food items for the better diet. Then came the programme-planning, which was relatively easy with my previous training programmes so successful and still handy. I know the gym and I know how I train once I get around to it. And yesterday, 2 months of training time at my trustworthy old gym. I began with the lower body work out and found my new programme appropriate. Today I´ll try out the upper body plan. So come tomorrow, the first Monday, I´m all set to form my new routines.


# 2 - Jenna (on October 16, 2005 08:30 AM):

Actually, I think it's great that you've recorded that for other yogis to see. Those that struggle with making a daily practice work for them can see a fresh perspective and can use some of your planning strategies as inspiration in their own practice preps. Bravo!


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