2 months ago I was having some real chat with myself. I was down right disappointed that I’d let my fitness take a back seat. Erm well more like, I wasn’t even letting it get in the car. I let it out at a shady bus stop  in nowheresville and drove as far as possible away.  I didn’t know how to get restarted and the options seemed overwhelming. Get a trainer? Too expensive. Watch YouTube videos? Kind of awkward. Go to a class? That would require getting dressed and being the token out of shape overweight awkward girl in the back that everyone silently judges. I was in a rut. Just as I was debating investing my quality time into a pint of Ben and Jerry strawberry cheese cake ice cream, a picture of a yoga challenge for beginners popped up on my instagram feed.

Since it was Friday and I was having a low key night with my on and off again boyfriend, netflix, I figured why not give the first pose a try. I did my simple little downward dog, filtered the heck out of it (don’t lie we all do it) and sent that image out to the world. As comments poured in I learned 3 things:

1. The yoga challenge community is amazingly supportive. I found strength and confidence in their positive reinforcement and love.
2.  I was stronger than I thought I was. I had mentally beat myself up and taught myself to think about all the things I couldn’t do. Even on day one I was already learning my body wasn’t the broken down hot mess I thought it was.
3. It was easy. I could commit to a pose a day surely. That’s like 5 Minutes. I can spare 5 minutes (unless you’re a creepy dude, then I have no time to spare for you) .

As the challenge went on I began to see interesting changes. I began stretching to prep for new poses. I tried things I never thought possible. Like who would have thought chubby (but fabulous) old me would be doing a headstand? I certainly didn’t. I probably never would have found out I could if I hadn’t had something forcing me to give it a go. In the beginning a faced each day with the mentality “this probably going to be a hilariously comical massive failure,” However, as days went by that mentality shifted. Now I look at poses with the mindset, ” I can do this… if not now then the next time this pose comes around.” I’ve seen myself accomplish the impossible: splits, back bends and more- all because I had something pushing me to try. Plus I made amazing friends (@lexi.getting.flexi and @kachelle99 to name a few of my instagram loves).

July is nearly upon us and that means the start of some new and exciting challenges. Here are a few I have my eye on. You can click the image to get more details on how to participate. I hope that you’ll find one you love and give it ago. If you do, tag me (@glitterandlazers) and I will do my best to cheer you on. I want to have your back, just as the amazing yogis of instagram supported me back in May.