Well, we’re well into our second half, so by now the regular Yoga practice has probably become a quintessential habit for everyone’s weekly routines.
And there might have been some days here and there, where it was simply not possible to squeeze in a Yoga session! But everyone reading this is still dedicated to showing up on the mat! (... and in my case, sharing the mat with a number of props that have actually become quite dear to me.... of course nothing beats those cute, furry props that seem to love YWA as much as we do!)
So bring it on: Day 19 to 24.
We’ll be encountering workouts named STRENGTH, PAUSE, CONTROL, RENEW, DEDICATE, REJUVENATE. But we’ve attempted and many of us even achieved the crow!
So what more will we discover about ourselves, which limits will we stretch? And what little and big achievements will we be able to call our own after this set of 6 days?!
See you on that well-trodden mat!
For reference, original website at YWA below with sign up:
I am loving the programme managed each session so far...Loved having the opportunity to watch pause and re watch how to get into the crow pose in today's pose 🧘♀️🕉
Well I’ve arrived at every session so far and came close to achieving the crow at the first time of trying this. I am going to do the session again so I completely understand what I am doing the pause and play will be used several times I think 🤔
Never done any yoga before but am really enjoying it and even getting the hang of some of the moves and positions. Possibly should have tried some beginners yoga before launching into this but its fun and apart from a slight fear of over-stretching some creaky part of my back, I've been surprised that I have kept up passably with things. Am learning that certain twists are not (yet) achievable, and find it interesting when one side of my body seems to move much more easily than the other! Am keen to continue with yoga after BREATH has run its course as I've already noticed some benefits from it when I'm running! And I would love to be able to do crow pose as per Dutch-Fraggle! WOW!....
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply toJiveblue
Oh wow! So great to read! Yes, I’ve also noticed the benefits to running! Fab! 👏👏👍🏽🏃🏾♀️
Adriene does a regular monthly calendar too Jiveblue . They’re not live like this one, but they’re compilations of her all practices. They often follow a theme and it saves you having to choose one to do! She also has loads of foundation videos so you can work on specific poses, and there are whole beginner practices too.
Of course there are other online yoga instructors out there but I’ve only ever done YWA!
Thanks for the info... that’s really useful to know as I was beginning to wonder how (or whether) I could sustain the benefits of doing regular yoga if I didn’t have any structure!
I’m so grateful to everyone who recommended YwA as it’s just what I needed! Cheers!!
Additionally, if you have a sore/problem anything, or just fancy working on a specific part of the body, you can type in “yoga for (whatever)”, and chances are high there’ll be a yoga practice to suit you!
I credit my eldest daughter for introducing her videos to me 3 years ago. I’d never done yoga before, live or online, and Adriene got me well and truly hooked. 🧘♀️🙏🏻
Day 19 STRENGTH My child’s pose is approaching almost recognisability!
Today’s session does demonstrate to me the progress I’ve made. Downward dog✔️ beginner amended child’s pose ✔️ cat cow ❤️ twisty things with keeping opposite shoulder on ground ❤️✔️ founder pose ✔️goddess ❤️✔️...
...aaaahhhhh ....deep breathing ❤️... mmmhhh....
Really liked the movements, so much that I wanted her to slow down to feel myself into each position more.
Day 19, I’m melting now, in a good way. 😊 Was a bit worried when I saw the title for today! After yesterday’s work out, I wasn’t sure I needed more strength yet...😆 but strength AND stillness was such a great combination. My body is definitely feeling well stretched, twisted and squeezed! What else can she do to us! 😄💗🧘♀️
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply toGannet1
I’m sure she’ll surprise us with PAUSE tomorrow! 😅👍🏽👏
I’m loving it so far, it feels very different to the other YWA practices I’ve done. It’s kept me motivated to get up early to do it before work and not many things do that!
I think I’ve really connected the physical with the mind for the first time- which probably makes sense as I think breath is supposed to be that link! I’ve never really been into the “spiritual” side before, I started yoga several years ago just to correct the ill effects of a desk job, but this has made something click with me.
I really enjoy the breath / posture connection, that side of the YWA practice is very similar to my regular Yoga class. But the strength work and general pace of the class is much more intense, which an interesting difference.My regular class is more focused on using the poses as a way to learn to be able to sit to meditate.
It's great that there are so many different things that we are all learning while doing the same practice.
Yes, I’m intrigued by that too, dijep. I get the impression that a few of her regular yogis seem to think that this one is more well balanced, maybe. I’d like to continue (as long as she doesn’t kill me first!) so will need to have a look at the others. What I’d really love, would be a 30 day yin yoga challenge! That would be so relaxing. 😊🧘♀️
As I've replied to PurpleFish my regular Yoga class is very much based on relaxation, meditation and breath work, so my challenge with this 30 day class is the pace and strength.After its finished I think I'll investigate some of her previous 30 day programmes. I'm really enjoying the regular daily practice and feeling the difference its making within my body.
Mystery solved, Tailchaser’s saying this year’s challenge is more gentle than normal! Thank goodness for that, its more than enough for me to be getting on with! 😆
I’m loving this month’s practise. I need to improve my breathing generally and this is helping. Now feel I need to purchase yoga blocks and/or blanket, any recommendations?
I’ve got a cork block because I wanted to be more eco friendly. They’re usually made of high density foam. It’s not the most comfy thing but it’s always warm. Any old blanket will do tbh. Do you have a mat?
I could have stayed in that 'child shark' pose all day! ❤️
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply toroseabi
Yeah, I liked that, as well. I did feel I would have liked for her to slow down as I would have liked to ‘feel’ myself into some of those poses for a bit longer.
When I saw Strength for today I did wonder what she'd have us doing 😳. But I really enjoyed the session and wanted it to carry on a bit longer, unlike yesterday. Thinking back to yesterday's session I know that I didn't arrive on my mat in the right frame of mind which obviously happens to us all sometime. I think if that happens again I'll try pausing the video and do some breath work and then restart it. I'm going to have another go at yesterday's class tomorrow, still won't get to get to Crow
Also just went out for a run and achieved 5K in 30 mins for only the second time ever. I thought a lot about breath ratios from the other day to help me keep it all under control and it seemed to do the trick! Also had Adriene’s Breath playlist on- Boot Scoot Boogie is great for a tempo run!
Howdy doody! Adriene is keeping me from falling apart now I'm full in with RED Jan together with the 3 days of Joe Wicks a week to keep my kittens going . Don't know what I'd do without her this month as she's helping me to stretch everything out - JW in the early morning, Adriene at lunchtime and run in the afternoon.Breath is definitely different - much more gentle than usual with only the occasional heartrate pusher. I've been very grateful for that. Even today's 'Strength' session - I was expecting more planks, maybe some mountain climbers, knees to noses, basically more upper body stuff but it was ok. I'm very grateful for the lack of mountain climbers as there were 3 sets in today's Joe Wicks 🥵 I think she'll gain a lot more fans with this year's 30 days 😍
Yeah, count me as a new fan. And she does always surprise us.
I was also anxious to see what STRENGTH would bring, but was very pleasantly surprised. No planks... phew. But now I don’t know if I can trust what PAUSE tomorrow will feature! 🤣🤣
I know what you mean. It could be seeing how long you can hold a plank for or just meditation? I suspect, judging by how it has gone so far, it's most likely to be meditation...but I could be wrong...😉
I had visions of planks, side planks and hip dips yesterday TC. Don’t mind the first two - but hip dips are the work of the devil! Wonder if we’ll be treated to any before the 30 days are out? 😩😳😅
Hmmm...well Cheeky and I have been doing them a long time Gannet so we’re a bit blasé. She’s never Joe Wicks tough (thankfully 🙏) if that’s any way to judge it?
Day 21 CONTROL Well, I got up at 5:30 to do YWA with hubby, as he’s off early as a vaccine helper, and I’m ‘off’ to work.
So that’s love! (For both hubby and YWA)
Managed to do this one with only omission being cobra, which meant I could keep up pace. (It got fast, didn’t it?) Of course my planks were half planks, bricks were heavily in use but my child’s pose is slowly beginning to look like a child’s pose. (Yey!) My knees are obviously getting slowly more bendy!
i look for them too! Would love to have others review it too but i say this not having contributed a review myself yet - i tend to do these in the evening rather than the morning!
I did my session mid afternoon. Very unusual for me, but I was on grandson duty this morning and all I had time for first was a quick run. I really enjoyed Control. 🥰
Dragged myself to the mat for this one yesterday! Really tired and, because of my foot, not so enjoyable for me; lots f modifications. The plus was, I showed up! 😆
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply toGannet1
hi all, I often don't do the videos in order I have to say, I swop around a bit to fit in with doing runs, zumba and sometimes just crazy dancing round my lounge to all sorts of music!!But I totally love her practice, and I wish my dog was as good as hers!!
I have lower back issues and very tight hips and so i watched a couple of videos she's done a few years ago on tight hips and I try to do them now every day.
I'm loving the practice and will go back to the beginning when this round is finished. Thank you for bringing this 30 day practice to everyone's attention. Its great to hear how people are getting on!
No spoilers today but Hubby and I chatted about how nice it is to share this mornings practice with each other, and that for me it is so enjoyable to do this with someone I trust so deeply. When having done group things in the past I put an additional pressure on myself, and although this does allow you to stretch your limits, it also is an extra anxiety.
So doing it with my partner and in the privacy of our home is - for me at least - absolutely perfect. You are apart in your abilities but together in your experience of a practice. Your bodies are different but you share in the aspirations of pushing forward.
Hubby and I actually do not have many common hobbies, but with Yoga we have found a new shared one this January!
Renewed myself this morning, as it’s the weekend. 😊 Was good to remind myself why I started this: I was actually yearning for more yoga in my life; more self-care; the excitement of learning and having a new challenge while on the IC from running. Therefore, thank you so much for your massive contribution to this, CBDB! Much appreciated! Having never done a 30 day-er before, your post here persuaded me to go for it! 😊💕🧘♀️
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply toGannet1
Awwhh, thank YOU! It’s also my first 30day journey and the community here contributed massively to me trying out yoga in the first place! Great stuff!! 🤗❤️
I haven't done the practice yet but I've just read through her daily email and I'm looking forward to it. But it made me wonder what everyone thinks about the emails?I think for the first week I either didn't read them properly, skimmed them or didn't read them at all. But over the last couple of weeks I've enjoyed reading them as a bit of a prelude to the practice. Some of it is a bit OTT for me but some have certainly struck a chord in me.
As I do the sessions first thing in the morning, the emails often arrive only after I’ve done the session.
So I enjoy reading them afterwards and see how many connections I had made in my thinking about the session that I had just experienced.
But I think also that often it’s clear that she records the session and than she or her team put the email together from what she said in the session, in order for both to reflect each other.
I do think it works. I’m normally of a more pragmatic nature but this more mindful creative meandering around her practice provides a nice balance to my pragmatism. So for me, big thumbs up.
I enjoy reading them and cherry pick the quotes/notes that resonate in a yoga journal I’ve been doing. One time, when I was particularly tired, her email was the persuasion I needed to get to the mat and afterwards I was so grateful! 😊
Still keeping up, enjoyed Renew tonight - really getting into that breathing with the arm movement which is very relaxing (I remember finding it really boring last time on home but it has grown on me). Can't believe we're so far through already - where has January gone?
Day 23 DEDICATE Lovely stretches. A now for me comfortable down dog. I managed to squeeze the cobra in before half planks. Lovely. I really felt the folds more loose than usual, learning/exploring how to relax the shoulders to let the weight of the arms do it’s magic. And I managed 3/4 of child’s pose! Lovely session, and on my birthday! So now I’m off to have some (gluten-free) breakfast cake!
🎶 Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear yogi, happy birthday to you!!! 🎶(be thankful for virtual - I absolutely cannot sing a tuneful note😨 )
Absolutely loved today’s session! 💗 Definitely one of my favourites, so far. 🙏🏻So chilled out, loved the dedication part and, finally, noticed my heels are pretty close to the floor now in downward dog, which was lovely, too.😊 💕🧘♀️
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply toGannet1
Brill, yes down dogs are definitely getting easier!
Yes, family boardgames, hubby and I recording a podcast, a teenage son nearly burning down the kitchen while trying to bake my favourite cake... wonderfully eventful! 🤣🤣 So here is a bit of my virtual cake 🍰 (the unburnt one)
Having run today, I’m unsure whether to attempt tonight’s as my knees are twinging somewhat ☹️
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply toLottieMW
Yeah, I know. My knees took a beating yesterday from rowing (somehow) but for this mornings Yoga session, I just took extra care how I transitioned into down dog, for instance. But definitely be kind to your knees! (As a 1 year old runner I have now become so aware of how much I’m depending on ok knees)
Loving this Breath Series! I am definitely getting stronger as we go further. I’m sure the crow is not going to happen but my plank is easier. I have just done day 19 so I’m a bit behind everyone else.
Yes, and I do think it’s fascinating how we all are progressing - slowly but surely - with different levels of ability, diff’t flexibilities and different weak spots. 👍🏽🤗🧘🏽
Hi! Hopping in here from the Bridge to 10k community; have been doing YWA for years on and off and really loving this Breath sequence of practices! First time I’ve managed them all on the right days (so far) and really feeling stronger for doing this daily. Hoping to make it part of my daily routine even after January is over. Lovely to have a place to discuss it!
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply toannaruns
Welcome!!! Brill, yes please join in! See you on our gigantic virtual mat! I haven’t counted but we must be more than 60 now doing YWA, and probably more that are doing these without being on our S&F forum!
Day 24 REJUVENATE This one was a tough one on my muscles, but just about doable (with half planks, and ignoring the side plank for now).
⚖️I could keep up and maintain the flow but the cross-abdominal crunches are challenging when doing them in such a controlled manner. So mine did need a bit momentum, just to get to the touch points. And holding your feet up between them was not really an option.
👣But phew, when standing there at the end, my legs where shaking.
Good training, as I had dreamt tonight I was off to space as an astronaut. So this training was essential for that! 💭👩🚀🌎
Eek! Well done! Sounds like this may challenge my hip/psoas which is so nearly there but still grumbles at some ab work, especially with moving legs. Caution will be the name of the game for me today.
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply tolinda9389
Yes, be gentle and cautious! We also did hoolahoop moves.
It was OK actually! Quite enjoyed it! I imagined we would be lying down to do the crunches, but being vertical made the leg movements OK 👍🤞
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply tolinda9389
Nice! Yes, hubby and I were trying to remember names for these. The NHS programme calls these (I think) Standing / Lying Oblique Crunches Standing. Hubby says his workout programme calls them standing bicycle crunch. 👍🏽💪✔️
Side planks were alright but I very nearly fell over at the beginning when she asked us to slide the hands under our feet and sway forward a little 🤪 Felt a bit like the day when I had accidentally drunk half a glass of red before remembering that I still had to do my yoga 🍷🤭
I enjoyed today’s practice. It was just what I needed after my run this morning, and even the side planks felt good. Still no hip dips. Maybe she’s forgotten ..... 🙏🏻🤞🙏🏻🤞🙏🏻
I’ve done 13 weeks now of a runner’s conditioning course with a local physio and standing superman is one of her favourites! Without the 13 weeks of practice I’m sure that would’ve been a mess today!
I loved this practice! (But definitely needed the leg out to the side to get into that side plank). Disappointing as the last time I did them (admittedly pre-baby), they were easy. Still, a lovely 25 minutes.
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold• in reply toannaruns
Yes, I fudged the side planks a bit! But well done! It was lovely, although my legs felt faint afterwards! 👍🏽💪✔️
I absolutely loved this one!!! My favourite one so far! Love side planks and the cross crunches 👏👏👏 I know but it was so well timed as it’s not a Joe Wicks day with the kids. If it had been tomorrow I would not have been in a fit state.
I don’t know about astronaut training but maybe space cadet 🤣
Loved today’s session! 😊 Hadn’t seen the, previously discussed, side plank before. Really enjoyed trying it and loved the standing crunches with opposite elbow to knee too! Bit wobbly/stumbly in places but so enjoyable! 😊💗🧘♀️
I was a day late for this as I ran on Monday, so did my fav gentle bedtime routine instead. I had no problems standing on my hands...but I’m still clutching onto the ironing board for the standing balance poses 😂
Well practice done ✅ I really enjoyed this session. I couldn't hold the side Planks for long and took the option to put the foot down, I've only ever tried to do one once before. I was almost disappointed that we didn't get a serving go at them. The standing cruchies, (don't know what she called them) were interesting, and again highlighted for me how our bodies differ so much, while standing on my right leg I could do them without putting my foot down, but standing on my left no way could I balance!But what really pleased me was this morning while doing my zoom yoga class I felt so much stronger and it was so much easier to move from pose to pose of a sequence that we've been doing for the last few weeks. 😊🧘♀️💪
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but i say this not having contributed a review myself yet - i tend to do these in the evening rather than the morning!
