This post is sponsored by adidas. All opinions my own!
I took a different approach to fitness this year.
When I first arrived in Asheville, I joined a gym. I went to the gym and lifted weights 4-5 times a week just like I’d been doing for years. But one day about 5 months later, my body said, “Don’t go to the gym. Do yoga.” So I did. And then it said the same thing the next day. And the next day. I ended up letting my gym contract lapse and doing yoga every day for over a month.
Yoga every day?
To my surprise, the world didn’t end when I swapped weightlifting for yoga. In fact, here’s what happened:
- I didn’t lose as much muscle as I expected. In fact, I still look pretty fit if I do say so myself. I’d say the reasons for that are 1/3 genetics, 1/3 yoga, and 1/3 the pullup bar I purchased to make sure I could still do pulling movements. (Yoga is mostly pushing movements.) I even noticed my abs becoming more defined! All those planks must have boosted my core strength.
- I magically became more of a morning person and looked forward to my morning yoga sessions. I’m a Taurus. I’m naturally lazy. Getting up in the morning and springing out of bed is not typical for me. But knowing that I was about to get on my mat, get my blood flowing, and feel amazing afterward did the trick.
- Yoga helped me cope with the change of seasons. I have a terrible time with seasonal depression each year, and yoga was part of the regimen I used to make the transition easier on myself. Some other things I do to cope with seasonal depression are: use a light therapy lamp, be intentional about getting enough sleep, and eat plenty of fruits and veggies.
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Ready for winter in my adidas Terrex Choleah Padded Climaproof Boots (they are outrageously comfy!)
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adidas Terrex Choleah Padded Climaproof Boots
- I felt more peaceful and positive overall. Generally, I felt more comfortable in my own skin. I felt more confident and like I was prepared for anything life could throw at me.
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Confident in my adidas SST Track Jacket and Tiro Training Pants
- It felt easier to stay consistent with my fitness routine than it was when I was mostly lifting. Yoga is gentler on me and it doesn’t feel stressful to try to fit it in. The opposite, in fact. I think my body was in need of a big dose of loving kindness.
- My schedule felt more spacious. Because yoga addresses my fitness and mental health needs all at once, I felt like I had more time for other things. I joined a Monday night trivia group and have been having fun making new friends!
Overall, 30 days of yoga was exactly what I needed this fall. I’m still doing yoga most days, but to my surprise, I recently felt ready to brave the gym again. This week I went to my apartment complex gym, did a basic leg workout, and loved it.
Have you done any kind of 30 day challenge? What was it?
