Bonjour everyone and welcome back to Fearless Fleur De Lis. I hope this post finds you in fabulous wellness as we begin the good ole’ 2019. I’m about to walk you through some of some interesting (to say the least) findings from the first week of a new 30 Day Yoga Challenge I am taking on.

This journey is called Dedicate which is prefect for January just after the Ball of the New Year dropped. Can you believe it… we are in January 2019 where peoples resolutions are still: get fit and eat healthier. Isn’t that amazing how these two resolutions have never changed?

Want to know my resolution: Track My Yoga Practice Better. I realize that’s kind of a cheat resolution but I’ve made one and that counts right? The nice part that I’ve incorporated into my tracking is that I will follow and watch as my practice grows. I’m all about that.

So, are you ready to hear about some growth and some improvement from my first week doing the Dedicate Practice of 2019? Let’s Go!

To access this challenge please head to her website or to her Yoga With Adriene YouTube Channel Below:

https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene

https://yogawithadriene.com/p/dedicate

What I Learned From Week 1

1 – Allowing Myself To Slow Down

I think it is interesting how our world has become so focused on speed that anything less than immediate is outrageous. To be frank, I am 100% this person. There is not a moment in which I need the next thing to be ready, to be set. New flash Rach, Yoga is the opposite of your lifestyle.

Luckily, I’m open to improvement and I’m open to the idea of slowing down. This week, I’ve noticed this change in two important ways:

• I found myself being okay with being in a particular position for a longer period of time and I was okay with it. Finally, she said as she closed her eyes and relaxed.
• Discerning or Recognizing that this is the time to be here for me gave me the ability to recognize the position and breath throughout the practice.

2 – Focus On My Core Strength

Several of us want to be able to show off a well put together set of 6 pack abs but [by experience] it’s really kind of difficult to do. Throughout my practices with YWA I’ve noticed a shift in my mindset with the core muscles.

[Yes, I’ll always want a six-pack] However, with this challenge I’ve adjusted my way of thinking to wanting this six-pack not only for looks but more so for the ability to be strong. A great deal of these poses [mostly of which I have yet to complete] require core strength. In order to improve my practice, I must first improve my core strength.

3 – Giving My Thinking Mind A Break

I don’t know about you all but my mind is a whirlwind. Pretty much a tornado of thoughts and to-do lists swirling around trying to find a place to land. The moment I heard Adriene say this phrase in her 30 Days of Yoga Challenge (the original 30 day challenge) I just can’t get it out of my head. See, it’s those thoughts again..

Fortunately, this is a thought that I welcome in with wide open arms. This is a lesson I have learned through these challenges because it brings me to a state of relaxation and calmness that I so really long for. I tend to get extremely worked up over things that most of the time don’t really matter.

So, this is my mantra and my intention – Giving My Thinking Mind A Break.

4 – Allowing Myself To Go With The Flow [literally]

I’m not about to say that I lack the ability to be spontaneous however, when it comes to certain aspects of my daily life – I tend to require more structure. Throughout this journey I have learned the ability to be free so to speak.

Don’t get me wrong, there are several poses of the yoga practice that without structure and stability there is no way you can achieve your goals but, there is always a moment that invites fluidity.

In these moments, I actually have found great joy in my practice. It has helped me put a smile on my face and release any high tension I have or had been experiencing. [Score!]

5 – Dedicating Myself To Finding What Feels Good

This isn’t so much a lesson than it is a finding. What I mean by this is that I’ve found that I have so much dedication to this part of my life. I want to learn everything I can and you know… as fast as I can. [Guess I’m still waiting on this lesson to kick in]

When I come to the mat – I dedicate myself to the practice. I say, ‘hey y’all – I’m here, I’m ready, and I’m dedicated’. Ok, I don’t actually say that but that’s what I’m feeling. [I promise]

When YWA turns on, I make sure that each and every move is for me. Not all of us can do the poses that she does which is why she has stages and proves to us that its okay if you can’t do X, Y, Z but you are hear and that’s what matters.

That is something that I find so amazing and thoughtful because to be honest, not all days is it easy to get out of bed let alone get to my yoga mat. But, I do and that makes me stronger.

What I Want To Improve On For Week Two

Life isn’t always macarons & gelato. That’s a phrase that millions of people say right? If not, what I’m saying is – just because you’ve learned some lessons along the way doesn’t mean that there aren’t more to learn in the future.

Here are some points in which I hope to at least begin to learn by the end of my second week of Dedicate.

1 – Observing My Body & My Feelings

Adriene enjoys putting in her practice phrases like: ‘Observe your breath’ or ‘How Do You Feel’ or ‘Take A Moment To Observe How Your Body Is Feeling’ and to be black and white – most of the time I have absolutely no idea.

I want to say things like: ‘Yeah I feel energized’ or ‘I’m a whole new person’ or ‘I’m going to save all the polar bears today’. Unfortunately, the things that come to mind are: ‘Is this what I’m supposed to be feeling’ or ‘I should really make a to-do list’ and ‘Am I doing this pose right?’

I’d like to take a moment this week and just Observe – like she always says. No thoughts – no questions. Observe.

2 – Respecting The Practice

Gosh, I’m going to be honest y’all. This one is a hard one that I’ve been battling for a while now. Respecting the Practice. What I mean by this is, understanding that all practices are different and treat your body in different ways.

Sure, on paper I can sound super sure of myself when trying to respect the practice but deep down – I want to stretch harder and faster. I want to get core strength yesterday. I want to sweat and feel like I just ran 20 miles. But, here we sit in the easy pose for 5 minutes…

Let me back up one second – Adriene is absolutely amazing, my life yogi inspiration. It is really my inner being not knowing or learning how to accept the fact that there will be and should be down days or rest days.

This is the point in which I slow down, know my limits, and respect the practice.

3 – Using My Learnings Off The Mat

Hallelujah, the point of yoga. Sure, let’s get fit and look fab too. Isn’t the point of yoga to find yourself and use this to respect others? Often times, I find myself going about my day and getting angry about things that aren’t necessary.

One of the reasons I started yoga was to be able to calm down and relax. Now, Please know – I am not saying that Yoga has not helped my inner peace. Here is what I am saying…

I want to be able to use these practices while ‘Giving my thinking mind a break’. I don’t want to have to go to a corner somewhere and breathe for 5 minutes so that I calm down. The cool, motivating thing is that I know that this is possible and that is what takes me to the mat every.single.day.

Wraping Things Up

Is it possible that all three improvement points weigh the same? Each time I look at these three points I think to myself – gosh, can I learn all these major points in just one week?? The answer is: Probably not. I’m just being real here. That is not to say I won’t try.

Doing this live challenge as taught me to stay on my game. Reading the emails from Adriene and hearing about others who are going through the practice at the same time as me is really reassuring and motivating. It brings a sense of community.

Each morning is a joy to wake up and do yoga. If you haven’t started your yoga practice yet and really envision yourself doing so – there’s no time like the present as some would say. There are so many yogi’s starting the practice mind challenge and fall in love with it – you can to!

I appreciate you following along with me and making it all the way to the bottom of this post. Please comment below with your yoga stories and experiences and I’ll catch ya next week for Dedicate Week 2!

Keep in touch,