Have you played with the idea of doing a yoga challenge? Whether you’re curious about how to kick start your own yoga practice, or you’d like to rededicate yourself to a daily yoga routine, A 21-day yoga challenge is a great way to get inspiration and support from your element yoga community.

THE BASICS OF A 21-DAY YOGA CHALLENGE

Participating in a 21-day yoga challenge means committing to practicing yoga every day for 21 days straight (the length and focus of your practice will depend on the classes you choose!). But it’s about more than just doing asana (yoga poses) each day. A 21-day yoga challenge represents a personal commitment you make to yourself. It can often be easier to find time for work, family, and friends than to make time for ourselves. A 21-day yoga challenge offers you a structure for creating time each day to nurture yourself.

WHY HAVE A DAILY PRACTICE?

A yoga challenge can seem intimidating if you’re not accustomed to doing yoga every day—so start out small! Our 21 day challenge is on the honer system. So you can practice for as little as 10 or 15 minutes a day at home, or join us in studio in a variaety of classes. A little yoga every day can be a lot more beneficial than practicing for longer periods of time only occasionally.

Because it gets you practicing regularly, a 21-day yoga challenge can help you build confidence in your practice. Much like learning the positions of your fingers on a piano or guitar, new yoga postures will often be unfamiliar at first; but as your daily practice continues, your body remembers! The more poses you commit to muscle memory, the easier it will be to dedicate yourself to a daily practice—and the stronger your body will become. The benefits of yoga will typically be experienced any time you practice, but establishing a daily routine helps you to reap those benefits on a regular basis.

Yoga challenges undeniably help you to improve your asana practice. More importantly, however, they allow you to begin to experience the effects of a consistent yoga practice on your day-to-day life. While you may notice improvements in your strength and flexibility, you may also notice more subtle benefits such as improved mood and attitude and better sleep patterns. According to a recent Harvard Medical School study, yoga can even help with anxiety and depression. Dedicating yourself to your practice—making time for even a quick sequence every day—may have lasting effects on your overall physical health.

SETTING YOURSELF UP TO SUCCEED WITH A 21-DAY YOGA CHALLENGE

If the thought of beginning a 21-day yoga challenge, is overwhelming—don’t worry. There are many ways to set yourself up for success! Here are some tips for overcoming a few of the obstacles that many of us face when beginning a yoga challenge.

FIND A FRIEND

Many people find new activities more bearable when they embark upon them with a friend. Find a friend who is willing to join you on  a 21 day challenge! You and your practice buddy can either meet up in person, or practice on your own and simply encourage each other with daily texts and check-ins. Inspire each other and hold each other accountable, and you may discover that getting on your mat each day is much easier than you thought. Plus, having a friend along for the ride can make the challenge a lot more fun.

CELEBRATE YOUR VICTORIES!

Throughout your 21 days you’re sure to make some noticeable strides. Give yourself credit along the way! Pat yourself on the back for getting on the mat each day, knowing that that in itself is a huge achievement. Acknowledge when you keep your daily practice promise, even when you didn’t want to or when your schedule seemed overwhelming. Celebrating victories—whether small or large—will help make your 21-day yoga challenge fulfilling. We will have fun prizes and treats you along the way;)

TRACK YOUR PRACTICE

One of the best ways to keep yourself motivated throughout a yoga challenge is to track your progress.. We will provide you a fun passport to track your progress and create goals. It will make the challenge more manageable and fun. Plus, you’ll see in one place all the progress you’ve made. Start a yoga journal and when you write in your journal, don’t include just your feelings, struggles, and wins, but consider also keeping a literal log of the amount of time spent in each of your chosen practices. By the end of the challenge, you may notice tangible improvements in the amount of time you’ve committed to your practice each day. And throughout the process, you’ll be given real metrics that will help you measure your progress, as well as tangible tools to help you understand yourself better by the time you’re done.

Now you know more about embarking on a 21-day yoga challenge. Are you ready to get started? We can help you with that. At element yoga, we provide an Unlimited Membership that offers you access to all of our classes—for beginners to advanced—each class style is designed with a specific focus in mind, allowing you to choose one that aligns with your practice needs and goals.

Our membership is easy and affordable—and you can get started today without any commitment. If you sign up for the 21 day challenge we are waiving the $50 enrollment fee. There are no contracts so you can cancel anytime. Our $99 monthly Unlimited Membership is the most affordable way to commit to your 21 day challenge. You can sign up online or stop by and one of our team can get you all set up.

 

Sign up for our “Get Summer Ready” 21-day yoga challenge, and discover the difference that daily practice can make.