CHALLENGE COMPLETE

I DID IT!

At the end of April I decided to beat fitness boredom with a 22 day yoga challenge. I was determined to take a class every single day for 22 days… and by the end of the challenge I would be 22 years old and a college graduate. I knew there would be tricky days to fit in a sweaty class (y’know like having to attend 2 college graduations), but I was determined to make it a priority for these 22 days.

So, how did I do?

in the end I did 21 yoga classes in 22 days.

Out of those 22 days I only didn’t attend a yoga class at all for two days– and that was because I was in pretty terrible pain from getting shots into my shoulder joint.

I went to yoga class before my huge nyu graduation at yankee stadium (which was also my birthday) and also before my Tisch graduation at Radio City. I went to Yoga in Manhattan (a lot ) and in Northern Westchester. I survived getting shots in my shoulder despite being a huge needle-phobe thanks to knowing how to breathe. I woke up at 6:15AM on days I was worried 7AM would be my only chance to go to yoga. I planned my day around ensuring I would be able to take a class. I took classes at Crunch, Yoga Vida, Sacred Space and Katonah Yoga.  I looked forward to class every single day. I had amazing classes and meh classes. I found teachers I adore and teachers I will avoid.

While it isn’t a huge feat, it was a challenge for me and something to keep me busy instead of sulking about my shoulder, and hey it did the trick.

The best part of the challenge? not allowing myself to make excuses about why I should skip class– I was gonna go to class no matter what (with the two days of pain exception). While I’m sure I would have gone to lots of yoga classes in the past 22 days, I would not have woken up super early for yoga class on my graduabirthday, I would not have travelled to a slightly farther away studio because it was the only class I could make all day, I would not have forced myself to try out yoga studios in Westchester, and I would have found a million excuses why I should skip class on any given day.

While the challenge is over, I am definitely continuing on. This girl who HATED yoga in January is definitely obsessed now, and even deeply considering teacher training— who would have guessed? It has definitely helped me find peace of mind, happiness and confidence. Before every class I get so excited to be on the mat once again.

So now, I continue to search for the perfect-for-me yoga class in Northern Westchester (can Yoga Vida please open a third location here, k thanks), and continue on this path that has already been paved.

….. and my gym buddy Annica and I are even gonna sweat our asses off with some bikram this week. Uhhh wish me luck.

In conclusion…. I encourage anyone who even remotely likes yoga to do a mini challenge, 20 days? 21 days? 22 if you just so happen to be turning that age…. any challenge, whether it be yoga, zumba, spinning, or not eating dessert, making it a challenge and knowing there are no excuses makes it so much easy to commit.
As I read in another blog after someone completed a challenge there is never going to be a good time. Was doing a challenge in the midst of finals, graduation and shoulder x-rays a good idea? no, but instead of searching for the perfect time to do a challenge, just do it. You won’t regret it.