I’ve spent this first week of 2018 reflecting on 2017.  Looking back at what I got right, but also figuring out what I have to do better.  So, I present to you my “2017 Top Five”.

 

5.  Big Boys

I have two school-age sons now.  2017 saw my eldest entering third grade and my youngest entering pre-K.  This is pretty big time!  Two kids with homework.  Two sets of teacher-conferences.  Almost done with daycare!  Woot!  Woot!  I officially don’t have babies anymore.

4.  Venturing into Veganism

One of my 2017 goals was to move toward veganism.  I quickly realized that I’m no vegan, mostly because I love bacon.  Though I missed the mark on becoming vegan, I did make a significant step into vegetarianism with a splash of veganism.  I’m dairy-free and meat-free a majority of the time.  But, let me tell you, it’s be quite difficult to find vegetarian recipes that don’t include cheese.  Cheese and dairy are everywhere!  Also, I live for Kerrygold Irish butter!  And did I mention bacon, and Chick-fil-A.  2017 witnessed my plant consumption dramatically increase and my animal-based product consumption decrease to 2-3 times per week.  I’d love to say that I feel remarkably better, but I don’t.  Mostly, I feel less bloated, but weight has remained consistent.  As this eating pattern continues, I hope to find my digestive issues resolve themselves and my energy levels rise.  I’ve come to realize that my true nemesis is SUGAR!

3.  Therapy Time

In the summer of 2017 I experienced an emotional breakdown.  It came on the heels of watching an episode of the Blacklist with my husband.  The main character experienced an emergency delivery of a child.  I was triggered.  I was taken back in time, 4 and a half years, to the dramatically traumatic birth of our second son.  I cried uncontrollably.  Nothing could console me.  I was a mess.  A sense of despair hung with me for days and I just couldn’t shake it.  I tried to reason with myself that he was alive and well now.  He’s happy and healthy and growing beautifully.  This lack of control made me turn to a good friend, who is a doctor, for the contact information of a therapist.  My simple requirements were that the therapist be a woman of color.  She recommended a rock star of a woman.  This has been a powerful decision that I’m happy I made.  She has helped me to become more compassionate, particularly with myself.  She also helped me to see that I need to work on being more consistent with adding new habits to my life (especially if I hope to see long term, positive change).  Therapy isn’t a magic cure-all, but damn does it help!

 

2.  Business Bih

I had been toying around the idea of starting my own yoga business for a little while, but I am terrified of big time changes.  With the coaxing support of my loving husband we started BeYOUtiful Mind and Body.  I still have the card from the flowers he bought the day after we completed the official paperwork.  I was filled with a mix of fear and excitement.  I’m a very introverted person, particularly when I’m outside of my intimate group of friends and family, so the idea of shameless self promotion intimidates and stresses me…to this day.  He reminds my daily to post to social media and work on new blog post ideas…because…shameless self promotion broadens the amount of people who’ve heard of your business.

 

1.  Marathon Memories

By far the craziest, most exciting, most memorable 2017 happening was training for and then completing a half and full marathon.  From January through November, I spent a majority of my free time preparing for these two races.  Marathoning was never on my radar of things that I’d dream of accomplishing.  Marathon prepping led to me cutting off most of my hair because I didn’t feel that I could regularly devote 2 hours to maintaining my tresses.  (I later found out that my husband didn’t like.)  And I got some new ink.  I’ve developed a bond with my three marathon training partners and we’ve got stories and inside jokes for days.  The marathon also helped me to realize that I NEED an accountability partner, or three.  I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have followed through had Jenny not sent texts, made calls, and come to pick me up to train.  I abandoned my 2017 goal of improving my handstand so that I could be a part of her goal, Walk 2017.

There are a few lessons that I’m walking away from 2017 with:

1. I can accomplish anything that I put my mind to.
2. My kids are growing up fast!
3. Having a supportive community around you makes a world of difference.

What is your biggest take away from 2017?

I recently participated in my second Wanderlust 108 Mindfulness Triathlon.  I was so excited when I got the email that they would be coming back to Philadelphia.  I set a reminder in my phone and purchased tickets within 24 hours of them going on sale!

 

My marathon training would make this 5k significantly easier than it was last year…I hoped.  It was a sunny yet brisk 60℉ that Saturday morning.  I dressed in layers and packed an extra t-shirt and sweatshirt just in case I needed to reup on warmth.

 

It’s hard to describe just how cold it was, which is weird considering the area experienced temps in the high 80℉ days before (damn that global warming).  As I began my pre-race stretches, I kept on my sweatshirt.  I feared turning into a human popsicle with just a tank on.

Minutes before the race, I dropped my sweatshirt on my mat and hurriedly skipped to the signature Wanderlust starting arch.  It was at this point that I decided that I was going to run the entire 3.1 miles.  As a non-runner, I was optimistic that I’d be able to run most of it.  Three, two, one…and I was off.  I cautiously began to jog, trying to avoid friends suddenly pausing in the road as well as  hazardous uneven  manhole covers and random pinecones.  “I got this!” I thought.

I settled into my turtle-slow trot as Migos mumbled into my headphones.  The familiar scenery steadily passed by.  I felt good.  I didn’t become discouraged by the people who passed me.  My spirits didn’t soar as I passed others.  This was my 5k and I was my only competition.  “I’m a runner!” I thought to myself as I plodded along.

 

As I rounded the final turn, I picked up my pace a bit.  I was looking forward to breathing normally again and going to the bathroom.  I had run my fastest 5k (36 minutes 58 seconds).  I shaved more than a minute off my average mile (12 minutes 59 seconds in 2016 to 11 minutes 52 seconds in 2017).  Also, I had run my fastest mile to date, 11 minutes 31 seconds.  I.  Was.  Pumped!  I had forgotten about how chilly I’d been.  I was triumphant!

The yoga practice that followed was equal parts challenging and relaxing.  Chelsey Korus led a beautiful practice with highly effective cues.  Reminding us to be mindful with the mantra “Now, it’s like this.”  I flowed through much of the practice with my eyes closed.  She made me feel comfortable to make the practice my own, allowing my breath to guide me.

Noah Levine rounded out the Mindfulness Triathlon  with a meditation that I won’t soon forget.  I settled into sukhasana (easy seated pose), closed my eyes, and began to mindfully focus on my breath.  Our mantra was “Inhale. Exhale.” as each breath came and went.  I sat with my stillness and fully luxuriated in the moment.  I could set aside my roles as wife and mother and I could simply be Dominique.  I followed along with the mantra until it faded into the background.  A full 30 minute meditation has been something that I’ve struggled to complete, but I found myself lost in time.  Before I knew it, the meditation was closing.  As I found my awareness again, I realized that my legs and feet were totally numb.  I couldn’t feel ANYTHING!!  I giggled proudly to myself that I was able to be present.  It was otherworldly.

I loved all the parts of this Wanderlust event.  However, there was a point when I was fully aware of my “otherness.”  I’m usually comfortable being one of the few black women at yoga festivals, but I do wish there were more diversity in the hosts of the main line up of instructors.  There’s something to be said about making a space where all yogis are represented.  Where women like myself can see themselves in positions of influence.  I was proud to see the beautiful Jana Mars and her company, Aqua Vida, being one of the featured partners with Wanderlust 108 Philadelphia.  She handed me a tiny message in a bottle with a wish that the mantra inside would speak to my heart….it did.

“Now, it’s like this!”

I choose to focus on the positive.  I’m smashing my old personal bests and replacing them with new ones.  I choose to mindfully approach each new day and the challenges it may present.  Will you?

One week ago I completed my first official half marathon (13.1 miles).  The experience is not one that I will soon forget.

 

I’ve been training since January to complete a full marathon and this past weekend was a step toward that future goal.  To put it briefly, I got it done.  This stepping stone made me slightly more confident that I could take on the beast that is finishing a full marathon.  My longest walk, to date, is 18 miles.  Therefore, I’ve (unofficially) completed several half marathons already, but there was a newfound batch of nerves waiting for me at the starting line.  

 

At the health expo the evening before the race, I headed into Philadelphia with the girls to pick up all our race gear, including the all important bib.  Jenny and I quickly realized that though we purchased the Groupon for the entry into the half marathon, we hadn’t actually registered for the race.  Duh!  (Apparently, many of the Groupon customers made this same oversight.)  Thankfully we were able to register on the spot using our coupon code.  Our bib numbers and corral were generated based off of our 3 hour estimated finish time, which was generous.  My fastest 13 mile walk had been around 3 hours and 20 minutes.  The volunteer cheerfully smiled as he handed me my race bib with the number 6500 printed on the front.  I’d be starting in corral 6….out of 24!  I was convinced that there’d been a mistake.  Don’t races such as this put the faster finishers closer to the front…

I woke up at 4:30am on September 17th.  The butterflies banging around my stomach must have been of prehistoric proportions.  Why was I so nervous?  I’d done this distance before, hadn’t I?  I rolled out of bed, ate my toast with fig jelly and then began my journey to the starting line.

 

The girls and I arrived about an hour before our start time, which would give us plenty of time to look around, stretch, and go to the bathroom a few times.  I spent much of that extra time people watching.  There were runners (and walkers) of all kinds there.  I could easily tell the professional runners from the novices.  The pros were doing real serious stretches and then jogging around the starting area.  All other people were casually stretching and talking, and above all looking nervously at those jogging around before the starting gun even sounded.  I committed to saving all of my jogging energy for the course.  Another way to differentiate the professional runners from everyone else is they wore exceedingly less and less clothing.  The women donning sports bras and tiny shorts, while the men couldn’t bother being burdened with the extra weight of a shirt and similar teeny shorts.  I felt a bit overdressed with my tank and capri leggings.  My anxiety levels were steadily rising.

I’ve always found when I want time to slow down or speed up, it always seems to do the opposite.  Before I knew it, Jenny and I began to make our way forward to corral six.  I felt like a fraud as I passed people who appeared to be in better shape than myself.  I suggested, on more than one occasion, that we hang back, maybe not go ALL the way forward to our designated corral.  Jenny made her way through the thickening mass of people, encouraging me along the way.  When we finally made it to corral six I noticed that there were people with many different corral numbers gathered.  We met a nice lady named Bridget who told us that she was on the Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon Tour, traveling from Tennessee.  She wore a bib that had a corral in the twenties.  She explained that she always moves forward in order to give herself more time to finish.  Listening to Jenny and Bridget small talk helped to calm me.  There were a few moments when I felt close to tearfully bailing on the whole thing.  But, eventually the starting horn sounded and we were on our way, swept up in the herd of people barreling toward the finish line.

The streets of downtown Philadelphia were filled with crowds cheering and holding signs of encouragement both for individual runners as well as witty posters to keep up the spirits of all maneuvering the course.  The positive vibes were high and I felt them propelling me forward.  My running app reported my times to me after the completion of each mile and they were faster than what I’d been training.  I prayed that I wasn’t pushing myself too hard in the beginning, fearing that my energy might crash as the miles added up.  Every mile or so there were bands performing to keep the energy up.  They were ok.  The drumline on Fairmount was by far my favorite.  It was amazing how many individuals and groups had come out and set up along the route including a cheerleading squad and multiple people playing their instruments for the enjoyment of the runners.  These sweet volunteers were doubly appreciated the farther we went because I was feeling the effects of the walk seeping into my joints and there was a diminishing crowd of cheering onlookers to keep me motivated.

 

Around mile ten Jenny suggested that we run the last mile.  I was hesitant.  I’d begun a new strategy of speed walking and jogging to help help my muscle groups alternate between being active and resting.  Running a mile seemed like it might be too much.  We compromised at running the last half mile.  As we neared the finish line, the crowds began to slowly increase again.  Their cheers filled me with the energy to cross the finish line strong!  Jenny and I high fived each other and I dissolved into tears when saw my family and was embraced by my husband.  [Tears are my way of expressing every emotion from exhaustion, to happiness, to sadness, to anger.]  The way Kyle hugged me brought to mind that I wouldn’t have been able to have this moment of accomplishment if he hadn’t been supporting me along the way.  It felt amazing to see my sons, my sister, my mom, and my mother-in-law cheering me on.  My heart was full and my legs were tired!  I’d done it….and I wasn’t last!

Since then, I took a week off of training to allow my body to recuperate.  I needed to let my aching knees rest and the blisters on my feet heal.  This morning I once again laced up my shoes and headed out for a walk/jog.  I intended to do four miles and ease my way back into training, but the excessive heat and humidity made me stop at three.  One thing that marathon training has taught me is to listen to my body.  It felt good to get back out.  Now my eyes are set on the goal of completing the Philadelphia Marathon on November 19th.  I’m filled with trepidation, but I’m going to train as best as I can to prepare my body for the torture I’m paying to participate in.  So, I’ll keep saying my mantra as I walk and jog “I am a walker, I am a runner, I am a marathoner.  I can do all things because God is with me!”

 

What 2017 goals are you accomplishing?

This question has crossed my mind often lately.  What are my reasons for not meditating more regularly?  Are those reasons greater than the benefits that I feel following a meditation session?  I have an increasingly busy schedule, even though it is summer and school has let out.  I’ve seemed to overextend myself once again.  I’ve promised my time to far too many people.  Committing myself to teaching three weeks of summer camp, writing science curriculum for two grade levels, teaching my regular yoga classes twice a week, and beginning a new session of private yoga classes.  I truly enjoy all of these things individually, but their culmination coupled with my lack of sleep has left me feeling drained of my normal bubbly energy.  I’m only one week into camp and I find myself wondering where the day went and how did it go so quickly as I ready myself for bed each night.

 

So what has brought my lack of meditation to the forefront of my mind?  This week I’ve spent my time with middle and high school girls discussing everything Girl Power!  We’ve journaled, read empowering poetry and short stories, set daily mantras and goals, as well as meditating for 5-10 minutes and practicing yoga for 30-40 minutes.  Teaching this class has forced me into a daily meditation practice….and I’m loving it.

 

On the first day, I shared my intention for the class and then we dove in heart first.  We began our morning by setting the intention for our day. Then I explained the benefits of meditation, since most had never practiced before.

• Decrease pain
• Improve immune system
• Foster positive body image
• Increase compassion and empathy
• Build focus and concentration
• Increase gray matter
• Reduce emotional reactivity
• Reduce depression
• Ease stress and anxiety

“So why don’t you practice more,” my mind inquired.  I pushed the thought aside and began to lead our first meditation session.

 

Each meditation began with us finding a comfortable seat on the edge of a blanket while sitting on a yoga mat.  The lights were dimmed and ambient music played softly in the background.  Throughout the week we practiced varying types of meditation, including:

• Guided Meditation:  Gently allowing the thumb to make contact with one finger at a time with each inhale.  Starting with the right thumb touching the first finger, middle finger, ring, and finally pinky finger.  A breath was taken and then we moved to the left hand.  We focused on the breath and the physical connection of the fingers.
• Mantra Meditation:  We allowed the eyes to close, repeating our daily mantra with each breath.
• Breathing Meditation:   We used the visual and chime sound cues found on the Calm App.
• Body Scan Meditation:  I lead a guided meditation that instructed students to consciously focus on and then relax each part of their body, starting with their head and ending at their toes.  (We reclined on our mats, but this form of meditation can be done in a seated position.)
• Mindfulness Meditation:  Focused on the natural pattern, sound, and feeling of the breath.  Acknowledging thoughts and physical sensations as they come and go.

 

After a week worth of meditating 1-2 times daily, I’m feeling pretty good.  Things that would have pushed me close to the edge a week ago, got less of a reaction.  I’m still getting about 3.5-4.5 hours of sleep each night, but I don’t feel as exhausted in the morning.  I still feel tired throughout the day, but I feel less irritable.

 

At the week’s end the girls each thanked me for the fun and relaxing experience.  Each claimed that they were going to continue journaling, meditating, and practicing yoga.  But one thing that I know is true, life happens and even the best intentions can be forgotten when we get back to our regularly scheduled busy lives.  I too gave hugs and vowed to continue our powerful practices.  But the real question remaining is, “Will I?”  One of the reasons I followed through with these goal setting practices, is that I knew that the girls would hold me accountable each day asking me what I was able to accomplish from my productive goals and if I meditated for at least 5 minutes.  There is something special about having a non judgmental accountability partner.  I’m going to miss checking in with these girls each day, but I’m in the market for a new accountability partner.  Someone who will remind me about the benefits that I’m missing out on when I skip practicing self-care.  Any takers?

When I do meditate, music helps! Here is some soft music that may help you too.

 

 

What health goals are you pursuing in 2017?

At the end of 2016, my bestie and work-wife, Jenny, invited me to join her as she worked toward her 2017 goal of “walking a long distance.”  Jenny and I have done many crazy things together like: getting tattooed, running in a color and mud run, along with participating in a shady ticket hand off with an old dude named Bob to see Adele.  So, I wasn’t shocked by this seemingly random request.  Also, Jenny and I share a desire to consciously make heart healthy choices, as we both have parents who have heart disease and have survived heart attacks.

That aside, I still had two thoughts cross my mind: 1- How long is a long distance? 2- How bad can it be?  I’ll be walking.  Later, she clarified her goal, walk 25 miles.  (Truly, I envisioned this “walk” to be at a leisurely pace with lots of jokes and laughs along the way.)  Then, it evolved to walking a marathon (26.2 miles)- Walk 2017 as we like to call it.  Walking a marathon seemed more intimidating than just walking 25 miles somehow.  (Who even knew that people regularly walk in marathon races?  I surely didn’t!)  I’m not sure if my reaction was internal, or if it played out on my face, but my eyes bugged out and my jaw dropped in a cartoon-like fashion.  Nevermind how long it would take to walk 26.2 miles, but could my body successfully complete such an undertaking.  Jenny went on to explain that she wanted this walk to be about women supporting women.  We were to be part of an all girl band of positive energy holding each other up and pushing each other forward to that finish line.  I’m not one to give up before I’ve started, so I took the challenge, albeit reluctantly.

Last week, our merry band of ladies began the official marathon training plan.  We walked 2 miles on four separate days.  Since this is a relatively short distance, we have trained alone, providing words of support through our Facebook group page.  We’ll plan to set up dates to walk together once we get to 5+ miles.  Our faithful coach sends us reminders of the distances we should walk each day as well as inspirational videos and quotes to encourage us.

Now more than ever, I need to be diligent with my home yoga practice to keep injury and stiffness at bay.  (Walk 2017 is helping me to stick to my personal goal of building my home yoga practice.)  The training schedule involves walking 4-5 days with designated rest days throughout the week.  I am cognizant to stay close to the specified distances so that I don’t over do it.  I’ve learned that a common cause of injury is doing too much too soon.  (I experienced this firsthand a few years ago when I was training to run a 5k and developed shin splints.  Ouch!)

Pre-walk Routine:

• 4-5 minute stretch before I head outside or on the treadmill
• Use a small roller to stretch the bottom of my feet

Post-walk Routine:

• Foam roll my legs, buns, and lower back
• Use the small roller on my feet again
• 15-20 minute yoga sequence stretching my legs and hips
• 5 minutes in savasana/minutes

I find that I have less soreness when I take the time to roll and stretch after each walk.  For the marathon, I need to maintain a 15 minute mile.  Therefore, the focus of my training is to build up my stamina for walking this extended distance, while maintaining a steady pace.  I’m currently walking 14-15 minute miles depending on the weather conditions and how my body is feeling that day.  I hope to get under 14 minutes.

On the designated rest days I’ve been doing kettlebell strengthening  workouts, alternating between working my upper and lower body.  I do 3-4 sets of each circuit workout.  As a recovering Pinterest fanatic, I have tons of exercise sequences saved to my “Get My Sexy Back” board.  (Don’t judge me!)  These kettlebell circuits usually take 30-40 minutes.  I then follow it up with yoga.  I begin with 5-10 Sun Salutations.  Then I give love to my hamstrings and any other muscles that need attention.  I round off my yoga practice with headstand and handstand (two poses that I am working toward improving this year).  I close with  5-10 minutes in savasana/meditation.

I set aside one day weekly to rest both my mind and body from all forms of exercise.  I look forward to these days to enjoy time with my family and decompress.

2017 is about finding balance in all things, including my health and fitness.  I’m taking a break from running and am instead focusing on “power walking.”  Yoga continues to play a huge role in my daily fitness routine.  I feel that I am seeing improvements in my strength and flexibility that weren’t apparent a few months ago.

I love the positive vibes that are being generated by this group of women as we take this journey towards improved health.  Now more than ever, I see the need for diverse groups of women to band together, try new things, and expand our horizons.  We might find commonalities where none were previously perceived.  People who seem different from you become more human when you connect and get to know them.  Friendships strengthen.  Positivity spreads….and it’s contagious.

How do you plan on getting out, getting healthy, and spreading good vibes?

Why is comparison between women so pervasive?  What factors play into the ways and extent to which we compare ourselves to others?  Growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey, comparison has been my companion for long as I can remember.  Attending a predominantly white elementary school ushered feelings of comparison to the forefront of my mind.  Don’t get me wrong, my mom took me to diverse shows at Philadelphia’s Annenberg Center and enrolled me in Freedom Theater dance classes to balance the influences of my suburban life.  I still measured myself against my peers more often than I’d like to admit.    Why wasn’t my hair straight and flowing like my classmates?  Why wasn’t my style quirky and cool like Clarissa from Clarissa Explains it All or any of the Huxtable daughters?  Why was my wit nothing like the cast of All That?  My preadolescent-self believed that if I were similar to these ideals, I would be the next Barbizan model destined for fame.

Sidenote:  How could any eighties baby forget reading Seventeen magazine (while in elementary & middle school) and laying eyes on the Barbizan Modeling Agency ads in the final pages.  My recurring daydream consisted of being discovered and signed to a lucrative contract while shopping at the mall.  Spoiler alert…I was never signed by a modeling agency. 😔

These feelings of comparison didn’t fade as I stepped into young adulthood.  Now, I didn’t just have my subconscious notifying me that I needed to upgrade my outward appearance, I had the voices of my friends added to the mix of whispers in my ear.  One of the rites of passage for any young lady is learning how to engage and often disengage with frenemies (those girlfriends that pass out backhanded compliments and criticism like a fresh stick of gum, hiding behind the guise of friendly advice).  My arch frenemy would always say, “You’re so skinny!!  You’re like a little twig!”  Translation:  I was tall with NO curves.  I had the body of a 10 year old boy.  I can remember telling my mom how much I wanted to finally not be flat-chested.  She assured me if I waited until I was an adult, got married, and had a baby, then surely boobs would arrive.  I didn’t have the patience to accept this as my only option.  Faster, yet unsuccessful options included socks, tissue, and water balloons.  How come everyone else had it made, but I still felt as though something was lacking.

Fast forward to present me.  I love myself, but I’m still a work in progress.  It was about a week ago I had been carrying this image of my pre-baby, early twenty-something, body ideal that I’d hoped yoga and running would get me back to.  A conversation with a fellow mommy and good friend helped me to refocus on reality.  I have to accept and embrace the body that I have NOW.  (I’m not in my twenties anymore and my body has been the vessel for two human births.  And I have the battle scars to prove it.)  I can improve the body that I have now, but I can’t magically spin back the clock.  Self-acceptance is a process that I’m working through daily.  Many mornings I get up, look at myself in the mirror and find something specific and positive that I can say.  “Hey, your hair is on point today!”  “You’re blessed. You’re blessed. You. Are. Blessed!”  Other times, comparing statements pop into my mind, at which time, I consciously acknowledge the thought, heeding what is true, and releasing what doesn’t serve my mental health.

So I scroll through Instagram with care.  I admire the beautiful asanas and super toned bodies of IG yogis, but let any feelings of envy reflect on the fact that these women work diligently to achieve their levels of strength and flexibility and I too can attempt these unique poses with consistent work towards them.  Myleik Teele mentioned (in one of her podcasts) that social media is a collection of posts and pictures that are curated to tell the tale as the storyteller wishes.  The highlights are shared with the world, while the awkward and dark moments are often deleted from the photo reel.  Ms. Teele also mentioned Theodore Roosevelt’s quote,

I hung this quote on my vision board.  Comparison is also fuel for the Ego.  I notice that when I’m scrutinizing myself alongside another woman, it’s because I want to make myself feel better, which ironically does the exact opposite.  As a measure of self love and preservation, my IG browsing is limited and is for entertainment, enjoyment, and inspiration ONLY!

I’m uniquely me and I need to embrace that and remind myself of this on a daily basis.  Because honestly, “…I’m fearfully and wonderfully made…” I’m my own kind of beautiful.

What techniques do you use when battling thoughts of comparison?

Namaste,

Dominique Anitra

One of my biggest struggles as a self-proclaimed “yogi” is balancing my home yoga practice with being a wife, a mom, and a full time elementary teacher to list a few.  (Even if you’re not a yogi, I’m sure we can all relate to facing frustration with finding balance in some area of life.)  A consistent home practice is imperative when trying to see/feel gains in strength, flexibility, and peace of mind.  But somehow, I still find myself indulging in a self-directed, creative home yoga practice less than I’d love.

My preference is to rendezvous with my mat just after waking and brushing my teeth, but before eating breakfast.  Ideally, my practice occurs during that quiet time before my two little ones are up and about.  But that can prove to be problematic when my youngest son likes to rise before the sun (most days waking between 5-6, sometimes earlier) and I love to “sleep in” for as long as possible.  If my sons are around when I’m on my mat, my peaceful yoga vibes fly out of the window as they climb over, around, and under me.  My angels also like to interrupt my zen by asking me to fix toys or mediate arguments.  Long list of gripes short, it is a less than optimal practice environment.  

My second dilemma seems to be my lack of creativity once I actually get to my mat.  What poses should I do?  In what sequence should I do them?  (I never experience this type of mind-numbing blankness when I’m in front of my vinyasa or gentle class instructing, but in those wee hours alone in the morning, I wrack my brain deciding what to do.)  When I’m truly at an impasse, I rely on falling into the rut of practicing a flow/sequence that is familiar or completing one of the classes on the Cody App.  (Let me clarify that there is nothing wrong with following the direction of a yoga teacher.  Honestly, I love attending a yoga class because I don’t have to think of the sequence and I can enjoy the challenge and the practice itself.  But there is something special about personalizing my own yoga practice, addressing the needs of my body.)

But never fear, I plan to strut into 2017 like Queen Bey herself. 

  Here’s how I plan to elevate my home yoga practice from mediocre to fulfilling.

4 Step Plan

1. Create a morning routine for during the workweek and the weekend and (most importantly) STICK TO IT!

 

(Potential) Workweek Morning Routine

4:30 am Alarm goes off…hit snooze

4:40 am hit snooze again…

4:50 am Find glasses and roll out of the bed and stumble into the bathroom…handle business

5:00 am Pick out a pair of tights and a tee

5:15 am Find my yoga mat, blocks, strap, and my iPod or phone (for tunes)

5:25-6:00 am Get my yoga on

*Clearly this routine needs a little tweaking*

2.   Keep a list in my journal of body regions that need a little nurturing (like my hamstrings…always) or poses that I’d like to explore more regularly (I’d like to begin a daily inversion practice).  I love to warm up by starting my practice with 5-8 sun salutations to get the blood flowing.  My “list” can serve as an informal sequence of poses for the mornings when I’m feeling stuck.

3.   Leave my yoga “stuff” set up and ready in my designated space the night before.  Therefore streamlining the above mentioned routine by avoiding hunting around for my misplaced necessities in the AM.  This would also free up more time for my practice.

4.   Check in with myself monthly, via journaling (blogging), to make note of any improvements as well as areas in need of reevaluation and further focus.

One of the principals that I need to keep at the forefront of my mind is that there is no “right way” to have a home practice.  Making time for my practice and myself is a form of self-care and I can’t go wrong with that.

 

I invite you to go on this yoga journey with me.  Feel free to follow my blog, send comments and questions, or just send positive vibes my way!

 

How do you like to practice yoga when you’re at home?

 

Namaste,

Dominique Anitra