Day 41: It's not over!

Wow!  Did I really not post for two weeks?  The last two weeks has flown by.

Maybe because my kids went back to school, maybe because I was super busy between work/kids and yoga, but maybe just because I lost focus.  Probably the last one.

Luckily, I didn't lose focus on the actual yoga.  What an amazing accomplishment - I feel nothing short of incredible!  It's been an unusual ride for me; a mixture of up and down, of balance and madness, but an experience that I wouldn't trade for the world and that is certainly not over.

Over the 6 week journey I have:

1. Found the calmness I so severely craved (not always, but mostly).

2. Reduced my expectations and found more acceptance of my circumstances - in a million different ways that I can't even begin to go into here.

3. Found an incredible capacity for physical strength and a mega-appreciation for my body.

4. Have breathed, challenged, grown, perspired, relaxed, loved, danced, flown, smiled and slept on my yoga mat.

5.  Have loved an appreciated every single day of the challenge.

So where to from here?

The biggest surprise is that rather than feeling exhausted and relieved to have reached the end, I feel energised and pumped up to keep going.  I realise how far I've come and that I have miles to go. As my friend and 40 Day partner Bi said 'I feel like I'm at the bottom of a mountain and have just started climbing."  

The program has reminded me how small we are, how little we know of ourselves and of the world, how important it is to be aware of this and how much there is to learn. It's a beautiful space to be in because it brings hope, joy and purpose for the future.

Best things about the 40 Days:

Through such a dedicated practice, I found real sanctuary on my mat.  It is my place of peace, of rest, of purpose.

I learned that doing such a dedicated practice doesn't necessarily 'improve your skill.' Rather, each practice is an insight to what is actually going on in your life, in your body, at the time.  Sometimes its awesome, sometimes its out of whack, but always, it's just you there on the mat.

Best of all, I loved how simply happy you can be with nothing but a mat, your mind, your breath and a whole lotta like-minds around you!

I often found myself turning to my right side and smiling at the end of a class just thinking 'Yoga makes me happy.'

It may not be for everyone, but it is for me.  I've loved this experience, and am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to take part.