I’ve changed the name to World Yoga Practice Month, and we’re over at http://woyopracmo.ning.com!  Please stop by over there and sign up for another month of yoga everyday!

When I first thought of the NaYoPracMo concept, back in November, it was just a way for me to rededicate myself to my yoga practice after a month of slacking off.  I’d been writing daily for at least two hours for National Novel Writing Month, and since there are only so many hours in a day, yoga had taken a backseat.  NaYoPracMo was conceived for purely selfish reasons — I needed a jumpstart, a way to make myself commit to daily practice for a period of time.

I truly didn’t expect that anyone else would join me, but I was thrilled when people started chiming in and joining up.  There is something so inspiring in taking part in a shared endeavor.  I loved hearing about everyone’s successes and struggles.  I loved hearing about the good practices and the challenging ones.  I even enjoyed hearing about the times when practice didn’t happen because it just wasn’t possible that day — due to illness, travel, mental obstacles, or even early pregnancy!! — because not practicing is as much as part of the learning process as practicing is.

There were days, I’ll admit, when pure ego got me on the mat, because how could I NOT practice?  It would have been like inviting everyone to a party, and then not showing up!  Honestly, without NaYoPracMo, I don’t think that I would have had much of a practice in January; my back problem just seemed overwhelming at times.  There were times I was in tears on the mat.  But thanks to this commitment I was able to practice through it and learn ways to modify the yoga asanas so that I can practice without pain.

So what did I learn?  I learned that some practice (even 10 minutes of gentle asanas and mindful breathing) is better than no practice.  I learned that I’m in this for the long haul and if I want to keep practicing for the rest of my life, I have to find a way to make it work for me.  I learned that I have to be flexible (pun intended) and not be attached to one notion of what a “practice” consists of.  I learned that a day with yoga is infinitely better than a day with no yoga.  Most of all, I confirmed what I’d always suspected — that there is a wonderful, vibrant community of yogis out there who are inspiring, caring, giving souls.

This is not the end of the party, my friends.  I hope to keep up a daily, or nearly-daily, practice for, oh, the next 40 years or so.  I would love to host another NaYoPracMo party in the next few months, but until then, keep your feet on the mat.  Inhale.  Exhale.  Be grateful.  I know I am.

Namaste, everyone.

So I put everyone’s name on a slip of paper, and wrote the prizes on slips of paper, pulled a name and then a prize (without looking, of course).  Here are the results:

Lisa:  Black Mat
ShantiDave: Travel Mat
Andi: Yoga Bag
Christel:  Doorhanger
Andrea: Nirvana Candle
Anna:  Nirvana Candle  (I know you said you didn’t need a prize, but I’d love to send it to you all the same!)

So, if you will all email me your mailing addresses (yogagumbo atsign gmail dot com), I will mail my prizes and pass your address along to the donors of the other prizes!

I know I’ve promised a “wrapping up” post summarizing what I’ve learned…all that good stuff…and it’s brewing!  I just haven’t had a minute to work on it!  Maybe I just don’t want to let go of NaYoPracMo…

So far, these are the people who’ve said they completed 31 out of 31 practices in January:

Lisa
Christel
Andrea
ShantiDave
Andi
Anna
Me

I’ve exempted myself from the prize drawing. We have five prizes available — I’m offering two Nirvana candles and a travel yoga mat (so there will be no excuses for NOT practicing when you’re on the road). Karen Beth is giving a handmade yoga mat bag and a “yoga session in progress” doorhanger.

If you accomplished daily practice and haven’t chimed in yet for the prize drawing, speak now or forever hold your peace! On Monday morning, I will draw names via a highly scientific method of pulling them out of a hat.

Finally, I want to say that I think EVERYONE is a winner (cue sappy music here) if you even attempted this challenge. If you did more yoga than you otherwise would have…that’s wonderful! I wish I could give each and every one of you a big hug for inspiring and supporting me — and if our paths ever cross in person, I will do just that!

It’s Day 31!  I have a post brewing about the experience of this month, what it all means, what I’ve learned about yoga practice, etc. but I’m saving that for tomorrow!

I would love to hear everyone’s final statistics and thoughts:  how many days you practiced, how many you missed (if any), what you learned (if anything).  Drop me a note in the comments or via email yogagumbo (atsign) gmail (dot) com.

If you managed all 31 days, you’re in the running for a prize!  If we have more prizes than people who practiced every day, then I’ll draw from everyone who participated.  Again, if you’re in the running for a prize, leave a comment or email me!

I’m so, so grateful for all of you and your enthusiasm and support.  Thanks to all of you for helping keep me on the path!

I only have time for a short post today, as we’re headed out of town (see YogaGumbo for more information, but I wanted to leave you with one of my favorite quotes, for inspiration:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us,
it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

– Marianne Williamson

I may not be able to post here for a few days, but in the meantime, keep practicing, keep supporting each other. Only a few more days of NaYoPracMo…I want to think about how to keep this commitment going, maybe in a different form, throughout the year.

Namaste, y’all!

No, I didn’t get confused between NaYoPracMo and NaYoWriMo. Let me explain what I mean by developing character. I am reading a great book called “This Year I Will,” which was recommended to me by Lisa.  It’s about how to make positive change in your life, how to stick to resolutions, like, for example, hhhmmm, let me think — practice yoga every day for a month?  The author, M. J. Ryan points out that when we take on a new goal, we are working not only on achieving that goal but we are also developing greater strength of character in the process:

“What are the character strengths you’ve been cultivating as you work this change?  The capacity to say no to harmful impulses (self-regulation)?  The awareness that you can rely on your own word (self-trust)?  The ability to pick yourself up and begin again, no matter how many times (resilience)?  Determination to succeed?  Humor?  Compassion?  Humility?  Patience?  Forgiveness?  Courage?  All of the above?”

Something to ponder the next time you’re on the mat…or considering not getting on the mat…

Only six days left of official NaYoPracMo… Although so far I haven’t had much trouble squeezing the practices in, I’ll admit I’m finally feeling a little resistance to practicing every day — just a little “do I really want to do this?” nagging feeling in the back of my mind.  It’s funny how the mind will do its best to sabotage positive changes, however small.  The body and the spirit know that yoga every day is absolutely a Good Thing.  The mind, that little weasel, is always trying to find something else to distract itself.  Laundry, television, board games — the mind will suggest many worthy activities, anything but what I know to be the best thing to do.

This is why it’s so essential for yoga to be a matter of habit — so that there’s no internal debate and the weasel can’t talk you out of it!

I’ve heard that phrase many times from yoga teachers.  Often it is said in the context of encouraging you to practice the yamas or niyamas, such as ahimsa (non-harming) or satya (truthfulness).  I’m finding that this month, as I’m practicing yoga every day, that “living my yoga” is quite different from a conscious attempt to cultivate a certain value or virtue.  It’s more that the feelings that arise when I practice are starting to seep over into everyday life.  Since I’ve been practicing consistently, I find that the peace of the mat is starting to linger longer as I go about my day.  (It’s not there 24/7, but it is lasting longer!)  I find myself breathing more deliberately, moving with more awareness.  I’m friendlier with strangers, more patient with my children.  It’s as though I am using my mind and body, in yoga, as an experimental laboratory whose results are played out in daily life.

Has anyone else noticed this?  How are you living your yoga?

Good to know your legislators are watching out for us yogis:

Never fear, she’s apparently not a real congresswoman. I got a good laugh out of it, though!