I have done 30 days of hot yoga once before in my life. I started about 8 weeks after Liberty died. Having practised for a few years pre pregnancy, I instinctively wanted to go back to the hot yoga room as soon as I could and then, when I was there, I saw the 30 day challenge advertised. I was on maternity leave with no child and I guess it just instinctively seemed like a good thing to anchor myself to. It gave me a reason to get up every day.
That was 9 years ago. I’ve done a lot of yoga since then and had two further pregnancies, but not done the 30 day challenge again since. When we decided to do #30dayfeb to raise money for @Tommy’s, it was the obvious challenge for me to take on. I’m now a week in and, of course, it feels very different. Thinking back now to the first time, I had a strong sense that I was holding onto something. Holding on for my life. This time, I have a strong sense of letting go of something. Both times though, I have felt a sense of calm – that’s what regular yoga practise will do for you. I’m looking forward to seeing how it evolves over the next 22 days.
I am very passionate advocate for hot yoga. And I do it for my mind as well as my body. Having said that, it is clear to me that they are one. I could give you so many examples from my journey that has demonstrated this to me with absolute clarity.
The yoga room confronts you with reality. It shows you what is real and what is important, (accepting these things is a different matter and we each do that in our own time), and it teaches you all that you need to learn about yourself. Classic hot yoga, (which is based on the Bikram series), is a series of back bends designed to heal the spine and with that we stretch and strengthen the nervous system. We work through the toxins in the body and squeeze and stretch the tissues and muscles where we store all of our pent up emotions and tensions. We store fear and anxiety in our bodies and yoga helps us gently, and in our own time, work through it and process it. In the hot yoga room, we sweat it out, drop by drop!
Much love and thanks to @hotyogahouse @yogahook for being so welcoming since my move to the burbs and Big Love to @hotyogawimbledon where my life was literally saved. Raj and Sara and @livesimplylisa hold a big place in my heart.
MORE TO COME … It’s only Day 8 #30dayfeb