Monday, August 09, 2010

30 days of yoga: Day 30 - Sparky's finest hour!

Let's not beat around the bush, eh? My 30 days of yoga challenge: DONE!

Writing this now, it's been exactly two hours since class finished, and I'm in some sort of weird state of ecstasy. My 30th class couldn't have gone any better - I genuinely feel like I did every posture to the best of my ability; you could say I was in the zone, which after having done yoga every day for the last month came as something of a pleasant surprise. I think I was a bit fired up in anticipation for tonight's class anyway; I didn't want to stumble at the finish line and feel like I'd let down everyone who has given me support and encouragement over the last 30 days.

What made the evening particularly memorable, though, was the fact that one of the teachers told the lady taking tonight's class that I'd reached the end of my 30 day challenge, and just before the final breathing exercise she asked the entire class to join her in congratulating me on my achievement - and I got a massive round of applause. I was genuinely moved by this. Some of the postures can bring up weird emotions, and I was sitting there desperately thinking "DON'T CRY!"

I'd actually thought about carrying on to do 31 or even 32 classes in a row, but after such a wonderful end to the challenge I've decided to take a couple of days off. I don't think I've got anything left to prove anyway. Doing 30 days of yoga has been such a good exercise; I've improved my postures, I feel fitter and healthier, and I've proved to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to. If you'd told me a couple of months back that I was going to take on this challenge I would've laughed in your face; two classes a week - three at most - was my limit. Once a day for an entire month?

After class I stopped to talk to the teacher for a few minutes, and she told me that I'll notice the true benefits of the challenge in the days and weeks to come. She said that taking one or two days off to let my body adjust to what it's done is a good idea, and I'll probably find that I have a really great class when I next go back. I think that will probably be Thursday, and to be honest, while I am looking forward to having a couple of free evenings for the first time in what seems like forever, I'm also looking forward to getting back in that studio. It's going to be really weird driving past it tomorrow and not stopping off. I'm really going to miss it - even though it will only be three days till I'll be sweating my tits off in there again.

What's really weird is that as I was driving home I passed the spot where I had the car accident last year, and it occurred to me that if it hadn't been for that terrible day I'd never have gone to Bikram yoga. Funny how something so positive and life-changing came out of something so negative, eh?

14 comments:

CyberPete said...

But, but, but.....but..

You'll keep updating daily though, right?

CyberPete said...

Oh, and congrats!

That takes a lot of determination especially without using any of the extra days! Good for you!

We still need to see the big changes in your body.

Tim said...

I'm taking a couple of days off!

And thanks!!

Tara said...

Congratulations, Yoga Master! Enjoy your much earned break!

What would be your next challenge? Do you think you would eventually want to teach a class?

Tim said...

Thanks!

Oh blimey, I don't know about my next challenge - at the moment I still consider myself The Karate Kid to their Mr Miyagi (original, obvs, not remake abomination).

Inexplicable DeVice said...

Congratumalations! What a wonderful feeling it must be to have achieved something like this.
I'm really looking forward to your next post in a couple of days - You know, once you've sorted out which photos of yourself you're going to post?

Joseph Lidster said...

Brilliant!! Well done!!!!! x

OddThomas said...

Well done!! That's quite an impressive achievement :-)

With all that flexibility, I've now got images of you in my head doing a Kung Fu Rag Doll down the street!

Tim said...

Inexplicable Device - What, like the Raoul Moat lookalike pic you made with scissors and a prit stick!?

Joe - Cheers Sir!

OddThomas - Ha! Brilliant!! Maybe not quite THAT flexible though!!

Tim said...

Inexplicable Device - What, like the Raoul Moat lookalike pic you made with scissors and a prit stick!?

Joe - Cheers Sir!

OddThomas - Ha! Brilliant!! Maybe not quite THAT flexible though!!

Inexplicable DeVice said...

Yes.

Tim said...

So good you posted it twice?

Joanna Cake said...

Well Done You!!! As to catalysts, it took the announcement of my decision to leave my Husband to give me the clarity to realise how much I needed to go to yoga.

Because of trips to visit Ruf and my illness, I've only managed about four classes in six weeks. I really miss it and can't wait to get back into the daily routine again.

Tim said...

Thank you!

I've been missing yoga since the challenge ended, but am still doing three classes a week. It left a bit of a hole in my life when it finished!