Monthly challenges

[muck_a_luck]

Good morning!

I've been thinking about how to structure monthly challenges. I was able to think of a bunch of things, but I thought some of them, like kick up into handstand or do a cartwheel, were too much about ME and another bunch of them, like run a mile or swim 10 laps, I coudln't do, because of the restraints on my time and mobility (can only exercise when the four-year-old is asleep before work, basically).

Then it came to me!

We should all set our own challenges. Duh.

So, heads up, everybody! On September 29, I will post up an "October Challenge Announcement" post!

Think about an exercise or fitness goal that you have. Try to make it something managable that you could attain, with diligence, by October 31. But not too easy! It should be a challenge!

I will invite everyone to announce their self-challenges in the announcement post (or in a freestanding post between Septmeber 29 and October 1). The challenge will begin on October 1 and end on October 31, when I will put up a challenge results post, and everybody can report on how their challenge went!

Hopefully, barring mod!flake!, we can try this out for couple of months and see what people think of it.

I hope you are all having wonderful days!
Very truly yours,
CK

Comments

[shanaqui]

Oooh, I think I know just the thing for mine. I'm working on being able to get into this pose, somewhat lackadaisically. A challenge is just the sort of thing that will make me really work for it (I'm that kind of person).

Though, even if I can't do the pose at the end of the month, I think I'll be satisfied by the work I've put in to get there -- maybe you could stress that, in your post? That the achievement of your goal isn't the be-all and end-all, but the work you put in to get there, too. I can imagine people dismissing what they have achieved because of what they couldn't achieve.

[rydra_wong]

Hey, have you found the Yoga Journal video podcasts yet? There's a backbends one taught by Jason Crandell which lasts about 25 minutes and works gradually up to urdhva dhanurasana -- it's great whether or not you can quite make the final pose, and it's brilliant preparation for it.

[shanaqui]

Yep, I've been using that some days, and other days just working on poses from that separately in more detail. I love that podcast so much.

[muck_a_luck]

Excellent goal! I remember when I first started doing yoga - I was using Rodney Yee: Power Yoga Total Body - and of course, he plunks that one right down at the end of his backbend sequence, of course. I was like, rrriiiight. I was totally amazed the first time I did it, and for a long time it scared me every time I did it. When I realized I was looking down/up/whatever AT THE FLOOR!!!! Now, it's almost second nature, though I will admit I still find it a challenging posture - I think mostly because it tends to come well into the practice, when I'm pretty tired already. When I use it as a couterpose for situps, it is usually no problem, and I can hold it forever.

And yes, working toward the goal is as important as achieving it. Achieving is important, too, if it is an achievable goal, in my opinion, but hard work invested has value in itself. I will definitely be emphasizing that in the announcements at the beginning and the end.