Day 30! Awesome!

Wow, now that was a fantastic day 30 class! Jason and Brittney co-taught the session and the room was packed with tons of energy. There were also additional teachers in the class that helped us with postures, and tons of encouragement. Students also had a chance to share experiences. It was a very powerful, moving class. My buddy Otto was there, and we finished the challenge together. That was pretty cool and a nice way to wrap up the thirty days.

So how do I sum it all up? Here are some of the highlights, and what I’ve taken away from this awesome journey:

 The 30 Day Challenge was not an iron man completion, it’s about the commitment. Doing what you have to do to show up, keeping yourself in check and making choices that will help you achieve your goal. Just show up and your body will know what to do. Learning to let go of what you have no control over, and just surrendering. Letting my breathing take over when things get a little tough, staying in the moment no matter how tired I feel, or how much I’d rather be somewhere else. Being aware of when my mind wanders and gently bring myself back to center. Being ok with the body I have each day, and how it responds. I honestly feel better mentally and physically now then ever before.

This Yoga is truly medicine for the body, mind and soul. How is it that I did Yoga for 30 days and my body feels so good? There were days when I would be a little stiff, but after the Yoga I would feel better; even though the class would be very tough. For years my back and wrists would hurt for long periods of time, and only after several visits of chiropractic, massage, and acupuncture appointments would things let up. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a huge fan of those treatments, and they have helped me in so many ways over the years. I find it amazing that by working the Yoga, and applying the pain to kill the pain concept that I feel so good.

Looking back before the challenge started, my mind had created about 5000 worst case scenarios and guess what? None of them happened. About half way through the month, I decided to allow the surrender and not anticipate frame of mind set in, and things really started to flow and get a little easier mentally. Seems so simple, but I think we tend to way over complicate things. Just let things be what they will be. Not that we should not plan and take the appropriate steps, but try and ease up a little. Do your best but be flexible, and as Bikram says in his book, do not let anything steal your peace.

 My wife and I incorporated juicing into our diet about two weeks before the challenge started, and I think that really helped. During the month I did my absolute best to stay hydrated, and eat the best possible foods to fuel my body. Doing the 30 days forced me to pay close attention to how I was feeling, and to listen to what my body needs. Controlling portion sizes, keeping the beers in check (yes I love my WA brews) and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate again for good measure.

In closing, I wanted to give a huge shout out to my wonderful, lovely wife Cathy for all the amazing support. I love you! I also want to thank Jason and theFusion team for all the inspiration, enthusiasm, and teachings, and to everyone I’ve taken a class with! Otto, Jennie, Dave, Bob - you guys rock. I’m looking forward to where the yoga takes me next on and off the mat! I’m only a mere rookie and am excited to be running this life long marathon known as Yoga. Namaste.