If you like reading my ‘Day in the Life’ posts check out Emily’s blog to read what Sunday, December 18 was like for me!
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After my top 11 in 2011 post I got a lot of comments about number 11, which was the contentment I felt with my life this past year. I feel content in my job, my home, my relationship, my activities, my family. Of course I still had some ups and downs last year, but overall I am very happy and content with where I am. I feel happy more often than I feel sad and that certainly hasn’t been true for every year of my life.
While on my mat in child’s pose with sweat rolling off my forehead yesterday morning I had a bit of a revelation; I think my regular yoga practice in 2011 is what helped lead me to reach this contented place.
I kicked off 2011 with a 30-day hot yoga challenge. I spent 41 hours in 30 days sweating it out on my mat. It was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done physically and mentally. I really wanted to do the challenge again this year but I start marathon training this week (more on that tomorrow) and I know that attempting to do 30 hot yoga classes in 30 days plus do my first month of marathon training would drive me very close to insanity, so I’m opting out this year. I’m kind of sad about it because I think kicking off 2011 with a determined focus on yoga and then continuing to practice 1-2 times per week throughout the year really did amazing things for me.
I felt better about my body than I ever have before.
I have become so much better about rolling with the punches.
I feel like a more calm, relaxed version of my former self.
Now-a-days when I want to freak out about little things that go wrong I’m better at reminding myself that it’s already happened, there’s nothing I can do about it so now I need to move on. I’m also better at looking at things with the 10-10-10 approach. Will this matter in 10 minutes? 10 days? 10 years? 99% of the time the thing I’m about to freak out about will NOT matter in 10 minutes, let alone 10 days or 10 years.
When I’m in the hot room, I’m there and I’m focused. I always leave my yoga classes with a calm and centred feelings and lately I’ve been working on applying that more to my day-to-day life as well.
I so often see people getting so upset about things outside of their control. I still do it often myself. But the fact is it’s not worth it. It’s not worth the stress on your body, your mind and your heart. If something is done, it’s done. There is no go-back-in-time-button to change things. I’ve realized this more over the past year and it’s helped me be more accepting. Like with the hacking incident last week. It’s over, it’s done, all I can do is move forward.
I wasn’t sure where this new outlook on life came from, and I just thought I was getting “wiser” as I got older but now I think that my yoga practice has a lot to do with it. I’m looking forward to deepening my practice even more in 2012 and seeing where it takes me.
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I love the idea of the 10-10-10. What a great concept.
I need to get back into yoga again, I love it so much but find it easily falls to the wayside with running.
So glad yoga has been so helpful to you
I definitely need to get back into going and I hope I will this month.
I like the 10, 10, 10 strategy, I think you’ve talked about it before but I have to remember to apply that. I think overall I’m a pretty calm person, but I tend to send all my stress to my stomach… which is oh-so-useful!
This is awesome – and is helping me re-affirm my love for and practice of yoga!!
I really like that 10/10/10 approach to things. I am going to keep that in mind this year as I face challenges and things that frustrate me! I am glad that you’ve found such a sense of peace and contentment – it’s very clear to others how happy you are with your life, which makes me very happy!
I still have not really tried yoga… I did free classes when I had a membership at the Y. I am debating going to a yoga studio close to my house that is known for being a great studio… but it’s SO EXPENSIVE! I know it’s an investment in my health, though… They do offer a week of unlimited classes for free, so I want to check that out and then maybe I will treat myself to a punch card if I really like the classes…
I feel like this is exactly what I needed to read today!
Thanks for posting this!
I love this post. You just reaffirmed the many reasons that I want to make yoga a part of my life in the coming months. You’ve got a great ‘tude, Amber!
I really do love yoga and wish my local studio had more offerings because once the semester starts only two classes a week will fit into my schedule when everything is going smoothly. I’m happy to practice on my own, though, as I enjoy just being on my mat and breathing.
I’m currently in the middle of a 99 cent kindle book called “21 things to know before starting an Ashtanga Yoga practice” that I would HIGHLY recommend for you. I’m thinking about starting a regular ashtanga practice, which has specific moves and progressions. But the biggest premise is that you have to get on the mat 6 days a week. So I’m targeting 300 days of doing yoga this year, starting the ashtanga moves when I can.
She mentions everything that you describe in this post as an unintended side effect of an ashtanga practice. Your perceptions are very accurate here, and I love your observations. Now get on the mat!
What a lovely insight!
… so lovely, in fact, that I’m dusting my yoga mat off to give it a workout in coming weeks. Thanks for the inspiration!
I’m determined to get back to doing the Wii Fit program, and especially focus on both the yoga and balance exercises. Those are the ones I have always tended to skip over in favor of the faster paced “fun” exercises.
It definitely makes sense that you since you started the year with something so calming and focused as yoga, that would set the tone for your entire year. How cool! I should give yoga a try again, I just can’t seem to stay focused – it just doesn’t hold my attention!
I kind of want to try out yoga but I am so not coordinated to the point that I would need to be in a yoga for dummie’s / super beginner class for it to happen.
I have never tried yoga, but I have become very content and very accepting over time. In the last few years I have been really happy with everything in my life, and it feels good
I love that 10-10-10 idea, it really puts it in perspective. I’ve decided to do the 30-Day yoga challenge (signed up yesterday, eeep!) and I’m excited and nervous. I’m glad to hear that yoga has had such a positive effect on your whole life.
I’m so excited for you! I really wish I was participating this year. It’s an amazing challenge!
I have wanted to try a yoga studio since I have so many different options around me, but there’s a part of me that’s nervous to try it out (I’ve only ever done videos…) and it can be very expensive. It may be the boost I need, though, to get rid of my gym membership — especially if it’s cheaper than the gym! I know most of them offer a week for free to try it out so MAYYYBE I will. Just to see if it’s something I could see myself getting into.
this is so inspiring – what you’ve described is like my ultimate life goal. I appear very calm and collected all the time but inside, some things just SET ME OFF and I’m learning to relax and roll with it. so far, regular exercise has been helping, but I can imagine adding yoga to the mix will only make things better
I’ve been so upset about something “out of my control” all morning, and reading what you had to say about when something’s done it’s done, and it’s not worth the stress… It’s exactly what I needed to read! So, thank-you!
Hot yoga changed my life last year too! I haven’t been practicing as much lately, so I definitely need to get back into it. I was a much calmer, centered person when I was doing it all the time. And I can’t wait to read about your marathon training tomorrow!!
I love yoga. I don’t do as much of it as I would like, but I definitely think it’s helped me calm down. I’m naturally a super high strung person, and I feel like since I’ve been doing yoga on a semi-regular basis Im becoming much more leveled out.
It’s such a simple philosophy, yet so hard to implement sometimes, isn’t it? If you can do something about it, then get going. Otherwise, get together the grace to let it go and move on to the next thing. I have to say I have a few bees in my bonnet I can’t help but rehash, but as I get older I’m getting better at prioritising.
This is a really great introspective post, Amber! I love that you were able to make this conclusion. I always disliked yoga when I was younger, but when I tried it again this summer I found myself REALLY enjoying it & looking forward to going to the classes. After Greece I didn’t go back, but it’s DEFINITELY something I plan on doing in 2012. I love knowing from someone like you that it’s actually WORTH it in the end, too!
Thats so great to hear! I too have become transformed by yoga this year and am astounded at the difference it has made on my temperament. Here’s to more yoga in 2012!!
Awesome post, Amber. I’m so ready to get back into yoga a bit more. I love how it calms me and makes me feel much more confident and intuitive with my body.
Great post. I’d love it if you could expand sometime on the 10-10-10 approach. What do you do differently when you realize it will matter in 10 days?
Love this post. I really need to make yoga a priority in my life. Whenever I’m really into it, I feel the same affects you mentioned in this post.
Thanks for sharing your 10-10-10 approach!
I’m going to try and remember this next time I get upset over the little things. This post made me want to give yoga another try.
“I feel like a more calm, relaxed version of my former self. ” Couldn’t put it better myself. There are days when something will happen and a thought is triggered – these types of “things” used to really put me on edge…not anymore? – and I realize how much of the organized thought + reaction comes from a mix of running & yoga. It’s amazing what can happen when we just meet *ourselves* in the middle, and go from there.
Love this post.
Amber, I needed to read this. My yoga studio changed hands and I’m struggling with the changes. Plus, with added cross training I’m having difficulty fitting it all in! But you are so right – yoga helps to center and calm you in all aspects of your life. Plus, it’s an incredible workout! So glad you are enjoying it so much!