So it's over. 😞

I wouldn't even say I have mixed feelings about it ending. I'm actually just plain sad, feeling a bit flat, and walking round in circles picking things up and putting them down again. Maybe writing this post will help...

I've hosted my first 21-Day Yoga Challenge. I chose 21 days because it's considered to be the minimum time necessary to embed a new routine. It was important to me that my yogis actually had the opportunity to grow, to learn something about themselves, and to show up even when it wasn't easy.

When I told Ashley Hagan my Business Mentor that I was hosting a 21-day yoga challenge she strongly advised me against it. She told me that they are far too much work and people lose interest. I am so glad that I didn't listen.

22 people signed up. 18 people showed up regularly. 3 people did ALL 21 days. I am still stunned by the level of commitment shown and the different challenges each of us faced. There was getting out of bed😴 ; the pressure of a quick turn-round between practice and work; one of you faced moving furniture, plastering and cat 🙀 chaos; there were house moves 🏚️; and difficultly finding the zoom links 😕; and we often had extra company in the form of small children 🧒 and animals🐕 🐱 . And this was all before we even started to think about moving our creaky bodies so early in the day.

I loved the different ways everyone showed up. Some came in pajamas, some came with brilliant yoga props - and nearly everyone came with a cup of tea or coffee! And of course some arrived after I'd started recording the class... 🤣🤣🤣

Ashley was right: it was a lot of work. But I love my work and don't believe that it's EVER wasted. 21 days, each day with its own theme and it's own meditation. We had a daily quote and affirmations to reinforce the daily theme. There were flows, sun salutations, stretchy days and Yin days. We had gentle days and less gentle days. The hope behind it was that those that took part would build a yoga routine and start their days intentionally and positively. I am looking forward to the feedback and I'm fully intending to share it!!

What did I learn?

I'm a big believer in learning by doing. In just about every learning style test I can remember doing I come out as kinaesthetic. I don't read instructions. I get things out of their boxes, and start fiddling right away. Or I make a mental plan and that's that. So: this is what I have learnt so far - (I'm still processing):

• I learnt that although I think of myself as a person that doesn't over worry about things, I actually do. Only three times in 21 days did my alarm clock (set for 5.55am) go off. I woke up almost every morning before my alarm, thinking about the class. I seemed to wake earlier and earlier as the challenge went on. It felt a little bit like sitting exams. I felt the need to check connections and Zoom links; and to look over lesson plans; and to drink coffee obviously! Being tired became the biggest challenge, and I think I will sleep very well tonight.

• I am a total convert to online teaching. I didn't believe that it was possible to build a community teaching yoga online - but it turns out that that's nonsense. We definitely bonded and became a community. The private Facebook page helped with this, and I particularly loved some of the journal entries that participants shared.

• What I sometimes forget, and the challenge reminded me of, is that I am energised by people and that I LOVE mornings.

• I learnt with the help of Mark Wharton 🙏 to record the sessions for people who couldn't be there at the time. I learnt to edit them, upload them to YouTube (unlisted and just for the people on the challenge), and put them on my website. I also learnt that I prefer not to record myself while teaching. In future, I will make videos when I'm not teaching.

• I learnt that Zoom waiting rooms are annoying and just create a barrier an unnecessary obstacle.

• I want to do EVEN more teaching online - and I plan to grow my 'Good Morning Membership'. It's been too good not to!!

Thanks to all who participated. You all helped make these mornings so amazing.