Yoga A Day Challenge

During the month of October, I am participating in a Yoga challenge through the people at GrowSoulBeautiful.  Their web page and FB page are fabulous. 

 

Prior to visiting their page, as I looked at the first week of photographs, I felt this sense of pride and strength rising up inside me.  I could see lines and arches and symmetry.  I could see something  (don't laugh) rising up from deep down inside as I gazed upon that scared, vulnerable woman standing in tree pose.  She looked so strong and confident.  Then I realized, that was me.  That strong woman was actually me.

 

I have wanted to write about this ever since that day.  Time.  Energy.  TIME.  has kept me from my computer.  Maybe it is a good thing.  As I have continued with the poses, the feeling only gets stronger.  The beauty I see, the worth I feel, the gratitude I hope to convey has only multiplied each day. 

 

When I went to the GrowSoulBeautiful web page, this is what I found.

 

 

Read those words again.  No really.  Read it. I'll wait.
 

 

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL FROM THE INSIDE OUT. 

YOUR BODY IS A WORK OF ART.

YOU ARE ENOUGH JUST AS YOU ARE.

again.

YOU ARE ENOUGH JUST AS YOU ARE.

again.

YOU ARE ENOUGH JUST AS YOU ARE.

You are deserving.

Confidence comes from inner strength.

Believe in yourself.

 

The words on their page were exactly what I was feeling.  I first saw/felt it when I looked at this photo.  

 



 





I had just finished a 3 mile walk/run along the Portneuf River.  I remember feeling unsteady on my leg as I got into my pose.  My leg was wobbly from the run.  As I stood there, breathing in the crisp morning air, feeling the sun kiss my shoulders, my mind cleared, my leg steadied and my friend took the picture.

 

Looking at this photo now, I see strength.  I acknowledge the leg and abdominal strength it takes to stay in this pose.  I see purpose.  Only with my mind clear and focused could I hold the pose as I did.  And forgive me for sounding vain.....I see beauty.  GASP!!  As I look at my body, in this pose, I  SEE BEAUTY.  I am right where I am supposed to be, living it, feeling it.  My leg while full, it firm, strong.  My abdominal area has a nice curve taking shape (wasn't there a few months ago). 

 

I admit my body has extra layers that I am uncomfortable with.  However, look at my standing leg.  I don't if I can explain what I see.  And if you don't see it, that is OK.  I do.  I see it. 

 

So this is the challenge.  Each day you do the pose for the day and post it to Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #Yogaaday and @GrowSoulBeautiful.  Join in.  Start today with corpse pose even.  Everyone can do corpse pose.

  

 

These are my poses so far:

 

Day 3 -Boise Greenbelt for work trip

Day 5- Nephews birthday pool party

Day 6 -Cleaning toy room

Day 7 & 8 Sacajawea Park

 

Day 9

 

 

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12 - My girls and friend joined in

Day 13- don't gasp, yes I have a tattoo

 

Day 14- with Miss Olaya joining

Day 14- without Olaya

PHEW!!  I made it through a blog post.  Has only taken me a week to get this written in 5 to 10 minutes starts and stops. Join in the yoga fun. We still have half of the month left to go. And seriously, if I can do it, you can as well. 

Hoping to write more often.  There was a time I was actually considered a pretty good writer.