Good Monday

I began the day meditating and dozing.  This is my favorite way to start my week.  It is like creating my world for the week inside of a relaxed morning meditation.  I am able to imagine fun things to create for the yoga studio, for my family, for my life and travels.  I am able to connect and reconnect again and again to the pure love that is inside of all of us, to drink of that until I am that.  All beings are that too.  Enjoy your week, enjoy your life.

2nd week already!

That was fast! What happened to the second week of our yoga challenge?  Thanksgiving Day was in there.  I did yoga all but 2 days this past week!  I think that yesterday, when it was my 6th day to practice and I was very tired I was actually doing yoga by listening to my body.  The body was not into anything but rest, so rest I did.  After completing and mailing the yoga school renewal application, all systems said "down".  Some of the group have asked about rest days and they feel like doing something so they do "is that alright?"  Yes!  you are listening to your body, that is the point.  Part of the point of the 40-day practice is to get really connected mind-body-spirit.  If your body needs to rest so that you can actually listen to the mind and spirit, do that.  If your body is restless even though it is your rest day - do something.  I am inspired by the responses I have had from the group of yoga practitioners on this journey with me.  You are all practicing your yoga challenge mindfully - it has been a succesful challenge so far.  Now what is going to happen with the 3rd week?  As the energies of the earth go more & more inward and darker, our energies also go within and slow down.  The challenge this week will be to honor your inner needs without honoring the mind-chatter.  What do you really need to do?

1st week is complete!

We are ending the 7th day of the 40 day yoga challenge!  It was so exciting to see the challengees showing up for more classes at the studio this week!  Today I took a day off of yoga!  I am really surprised with myself.  It is yoga teacher training weekend at the studio and I expected I might be doing poses along with students today, but I sat out even the fun YogaKids demo class that Rebecca did for the teacher trainees.  (It was so tempting to do the kids poses because it look like fun!)  I did however, growl like a lion, and do a couple of restorative poses - that counts as rest!  Only 33 days to go!

Rest

If you read Aimee's blog (prior) you would see her talking about rest - I wonder how many of us in the challenge have had the same thought?  I did in a different way, I was wondering if I could actually get in a day of rest!  I usually take Saturday and Sunday off of teaching yoga, so then I have an option of having at least one day of just practice for me.  I have lately taken advantage of that by meditating rather than asana practice.  However, since beginning the challenge I have not yet had a day of rest!  I stole a nap out of my schedule on Tuesday though - we hoo  that was so great!  I slept about 2 hours Tuesday afternoon and it has made my last two days much easier now.  So don't forget to rest!

Aimee: Day 5—Day of (much needed) rest

Aimee: Day 5—Day of (much needed) rest: "When I started the challenge and Karen said that we should practice 6 days and rest 1 day each week, I thought, no...I'll just practice ever..."

Aimee: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, I.15

Aimee: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, I.15: "On non-attachment and purpose: 'It is not only saints but everything in nature—trees, birds, animals—they all live for the sake of others. ..."

Aimee. . .

My mission is simply to feel better in body, mind, and spirit. For my first asana practice I focused on balance poses because restoring balance is what I need: in body to feel energetic but not frenetic during the day, calm and at ease at night; in mind to feel focused, less scattered, present, and even; in spirit to feel more connected to my Divine Source and therefore more connected to my Self and everyone around me. Every day I will end my practice with this mantra: May my heart be filled with Divine Love. May I be an expression of Divine Love. Aimee J

Mona - welcome to the Challenge!

Mona said...


I'm in! virtually since I live in MO. Karen, you've inspired me


(Okay, Mona, that is a good excuse - you live in Missouri!)  Yippy!

40 Day Yoga Challengee - Paula writes...

For me, the 40 Day Yoga Challenge is two-fold. The first reason I am doing the challenge is because I have never fully committed to any type of workout schedule and stuck to it, EVER! Since I have been coming to Yoga Prairie in October, I have seen a huge transformation in my life; mentally, physically, and spiritually. I love the family atmosphere and the others who come to the studio motivate you to keep coming regularly. Along with yoga, I have also committed to better nutrition and healthy supplements. Usually, by this time in the season I have a lingering cold/cough or sinus infection. Just by staying with yoga 4-5 times a week and eating organically, I have been able to stave off any infection so far this season (this includes taking a good quality multivitamin, fish oil supplement, and vitamin D3 daily). I also want to be in the best swimsuit shape I can be before taking a tropical vacation in January where I will be able to realize one of my dreams – doing yoga every morning on the beach! I have already lost 3 inches in my waist in just one month of regular practice.


I guess my mission statement is: A good diet and plenty of yoga to stay healthy & strong.

Thanks and good luck to everyone doing the challenge!
Namaste
Paula Leen

Why I'm doing the 40-day challenge

All I don't need is one more thing to do, one more challenge.  I am a business owner, I have been feeling overwhelmed lately - teaching several yoga classes per week, planning and scheduling yoga teacher training, the paperwork, the accounting...all the things a business owner does...and I am supposed to embody what I am teaching as well.  That is my challenge.   ( http://www.yogaprairie.com/ )

Someone asked me a couple of weeks ago how the yoga studio was doing...I don't know what I answered, but it came out like: I haven't made any money for 3 years AND I work all the time.   They then asked me:  WHY are you doing it then?

I have been thinking about that question for the past 3 years - ever since I began working 10-12 hour days.  Why ?  This week I came to a really interesting conclusion.  Everyone that walks into that studio to practice and learn yoga is expecting the doors to stay open, and I am doing that.  Whatever...I could explain for hours why I am doing this.

I'm not going to.  I'm going to tell you what my guru/teacher Ishwar Puri says.  "How do you know if you are serving God's will? - What IS God's will?"  "All you have to do is look at your circumstances...if there is a shovel in your hand - dig.  If there is a pen in your Hand, write".  Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, God's will is for you to serve in that way.

So the 40-day yoga challenge is, simply for me,  to do God's will.  Practice yoga.  That's what yoga teachers are supposed to do : ).  Namaste, Karen

40 Day Yoga Challenge! Nov. 14-Dec. 24th 2010

Oh no!!not again!  Yes! You cannot fail - you have support through the most tempting holiday!  If you want to join our 40-day yoga challenge, respond here and let me know you are in!  What:  Promise to practice yoga 6 days a week for 40 days.  How much yoga?  45 to 90 minutes 3 days a week (preferably at a Yoga Prairie studio class - 8783 Columbine Rd., Eden Prairie, MN  55344) and 3 days a week at home a minimum of 20-30 minutes and one day of rest (yes you must rest!). 

Support can be found right here, check in with me daily or every couple of days - we can do this!  Why?
Here are the possible benefits:  relax, peace of mind, lose weight, better digestion, better sleep, better sex, be happier, be healther. . . did I miss anything?!