We are in the full swing of the New Year. Classes have begun, routines are being established, and individuals are reevaluating the resolutions they have set. In 2017, 21.4% of individuals said they wanted to lose weight and eat healthier, 12.3% said they wanted to take step towards self-improvement, and 6.3% said they wanted to be more adventurous.
As I was thinking about my goals for 2018, I continuously came back to three ideas- fitness, destressing techniques, and self-love. As I sought how to transform these ideas into a goal, I came across an old friend of mine, Adriene Mishler, more popularly known as “Yoga with Adriene” on YouTube.
To celebrate the New Year, Adriene released a new and free series on her YouTube channel, “True: A 30 Day Yoga Journey”. Adriene’s goal for her channel is to “welcome all levels, all bodies, and all genders to find a practice that suits your mood or start a journey toward healing”. Adriene encourages all of her students to engage in a self-love practice, to reconnect to what feels good, to create an authentic space, and to explore who they are.
Adriene intentionally refers to this series as a journey and chooses to omit the word “challenge”. Challenge has the connotation of being a competition. Oftentimes during a competition, individuals compare themselves to others. In addition, during a challenge, an individual may push themselves past their limit in order to prove that they can be successful. However, as Adriene explains, a journey, while there are challenges and obstacles to overcome, is an individual and unique experience. A journey is personal and is crafted uniquely by an individual’s experiences, goals, passions, and self-concept. This series and channel is all about finding what works for individuals.
What makes Adriene’s videos unlike other yogis on YouTube? Firstly, Adriene is so encouraging and is constantly speaking about self-love in such an affirming and genuine manner. She instructs her students to repeat self-affirming messages like, “I am strong”. By including self-love practices during yoga poses, it transforms the practice into a physical, emotional, and spiritual experience. Secondly, she is authentically herself. She has a quirky sense of humor and is a natural on camera. Adriene also challenges her students on and off the mat to think more critically, to love authentically, and to engage in self-reflection. Lastly, Benji, Adriene’s adorable dog, is often featured in her videos sleeping, wanting to play, and even participating in the poses.
How have I benefited from this 30-day journey thus far? One of my biggest goals I had when participating in this journey was being able to touch my toes and obtain more flexibility. Much to my surprise, I was finally able to touch my toes on day five. While that may seem like a small and silly feat, I felt so proud of myself. In addition, I have noticed that I am less stressed throughout the day. This is because I am taking time to rest and to pay attention to my breath. I have also recognized that I am taking better care of myself, which is the ultimate act of self-love. Due to the fact that I am taking time to do something I love, I am more aware of my body, mind, and how I can care for myself. While participating in these videos, I feel incredibly happy. The more and more I complete these videos, the more I find myself laughing and smiling in each pose. I find myself in such a state because I feel empowered and encouraged to be my most authentic self. Adriene has become a friend, a source of laughter, a therapist, and a teacher to me.
Why you should join this journey? First of all, it is never late to jump into this journey with Adriene! The videos are 15-40 minutes long and are perfect to do with friends or by yourself! Also, the videos are free and you can watch them at any time. Everyone should join because through this experience, you will honor your body and become more connected to your emotions. Another reason you should join is because of the global connection. It is so uplifting knowing that thousands of people around the world are participating in the same experience.
Are you ready to begin your own self-love journey filled with discovery, authenticity, and downward-dog poses? Join thousands of others and myself by saying “Namaste” with Adriene!
True: A 30-Day Yoga Challenge
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLui6Eyny-UzwIo3OBXV_KlsWaxUANvWhh