During last night’s class, one of my yoga instructors gave us a challenge to be ever present and joyful – particularly upon waking — for 30 days. Although my practice that night was “off,” at the time, the challenge seemed more than doable. This was vastly different from the upcoming challenge that she is putting out for the month of January. I figured that it couldn’t hurt to try to accomplish the goal of joyful presence. Even if I fail at hitting it every moment of every day for 30 straight days, I will still enjoy the success of trying.
Interestingly enough, I woke this morning with this challenge being the farthest from my awareness possible. Yet, somehow, I was successful in waking in an ever-present and joyful state – even in the darkness of December morning.
Choosing to be more present and joyful is something to which we are accountable to only ourselves. The January challenge is a bit more “official” AND challenging. Commit to doing 60 classes in a 60 day time period. It sounds nearly impossible and yet, I wonder what would happen if I actually tried to do it.
I’m not sure if I want to officially commit or take on the challenge unofficially. I honestly don’t know how I could manage to make it to the studio 60 times in 60 days. But if I was committed to doing either a class (yoga or meditation) in-studio OR 60 minutes of at-home practice, I could see that being within the realm of possibilities (though not easily accomplished). Unofficial participation won’t qualify me for any monetary rewards but the ways this commitment would benefit me spiritually, mentally, and physically most certainly would be HUGE. I might just have to take it on.
