Yip, 100 days of Yoga practice, meditation, focusing on breathing, researching and accomplishing what I set out to do – find positive change!
So who am I now compared to 100 days ago? There are two specific areas where I have noticed a positive change: Physical and mind.
Let’s start with the physical
I don’t like to jump on the scales so I can’t give you an actual weight difference if there is one! Last night my 6-year-old was showing off his muscles at the table during dinner, those potatoes he just ate went straight to his muscles of course! So we all ended up showing our arm muscles expecting as usual Dads would stand out the most (as he eats the most veggies right 😉 ) But nooo I even surprised myself as the muscles popped up on my arms and there was some serious definition, my kids then laughed and told my hubby I am probably stronger than him now . . . he looked worried 😉
There is core strength there for sure, and had I not been eating blocks of chocolate and massive meals lately I would say there would be a nice ‘after photo’ – obviously! But hey, maybe now I am in a good Yoga routine I will start to focus on the food intake. Contracting my stomach muscles and feeling them though – yep proud to say there are some abs in there. I’m feeling stronger all over for sure yet it also brings awareness to how weak I was before and how there is a long way to go to achieve what I would like to. Of all the places in my body, my back feels the weakest, which is something I had never noticed before starting Yoga.
Now onto the REAL positive changes, the ones that matter SO much more, my mind and well being.
For some of us the person who knows us best, and will tell us the truth openly, is our Mothers. For me, this is true anyway so I knew it really meant something when she told me the other day
‘You’re a lot calmer and relaxed to be around, we’ve noticed a change’.
It shows things have changed as I didn’t focus on the fact that she was implying I DIDN’T use to be and get upset about it, but I saw what she meant, agreed and took it as a compliment and a realization that’s why I started in the first place! My husband just read this, laughed, and safely said ‘Um yeah I agree with your Mum’… Clearly used to still playing it safe 🙂
The main reason I started Yoga was that I ended up having about 3 panic attacks in one week and anxiety was starting to really take over. It has always been an issue for me (even though I didn’t realize what it was when I was younger) and after I got told ‘What if you had a panic attack while the kids were in the car’. Holy Moly did that hit home for me!! The next day I booked in for private Yoga sessions as the thought of going to an open class was too daunting. As I have mentioned before, in that hour I relaxed more than I had in years and felt such a surge of warmth and comfort like I finally had what I had been missing.
If you have seen my photos up you will see I put myself out there to go for a part in a commercial and got the part. There is NO WAY I would have done this 100 days ago or even taken the first step. A little acting as an adult has always been something I secretly wanted to do yet would never actually give a go as nerves would take over. Even though there is no speaking and it’s about 15 seconds of screen time, I’m pretty please just for the fact I did it!
I am more relaxed day to day, my kids have a calm Mum who does Yoga with them. I take the time to breathe and remain centered before meetings or speaking in front of people, and I’m sure it shows as well as feels better and more in control.
I sleep so much better than I used to, getting to sleep within minutes and most nights I am totally out to it until morning.
The most favorite part of my journey so far is the people I am meeting, the connections I am making with people whether it is online or in person. Hearing about others joy with Yoga, and seeing/hearing about people starting Yoga lights me up on the inside. I guess what Yoga does for me I see what it does for others – and there is nothing better that knowing others are creating their own positive changes which means they can be the best they can be. When a person can be the best they can be, it means they can give the best they can give xx
