This past month our yoga studio community embarked on a 30 day yoga challenge where our community committed to their health and wellbeing through consistent yoga practice.

For some students, yoga had become a part of their daily routine while others were starting from scratch and trying to establish a regular yoga practice by joining the May Challenge. It was so inspiring to see our community come together and do sooo much yoga!

Throughout the month, students experienced difficulties and triumphs while trying to keep up with their yoga practice.

The joy and bliss that comes from a regular yoga practice is unmeasurable. Students reported feeling more relaxed, less anxious, sleeping better, having more energy and an overall sense of wellbeing.

Self-care can be difficult to commit to, but the joy and bliss that comes from regular yoga practice is so worth it! We have heard so many positive student experiences from the May yoga challenge and wanted to share!

One of our studio members Dee H. shares her experience about doing yoga every day!

1. What made you sign up for the May Challenge?

I signed up for the May Challenge because I enjoyed doing it last year and to see if I can do better.

2. What is your favourite thing about the May Challenge?

My favourite thing about the May Challenge is the comradely and support from the fellow participants and the yoga instructors.

3. Are all the classes accessible to beginners?

I would say that the majority of the classes that I participated in were accessible to beginners.

4. Have you noticed physical or mental improvements?

I have definitely noticed that since I started the May Challenge I feel stronger, more alert and sleep like a baby!

5. Did you have any hard days? How did practicing yoga help?

I had one challenging morning halfway through the third week. I pushed on with the yoga and regained my energy.

6. What motivated you to do so much yoga?

I am motivated to do more yoga because it benefits me physically, mentally and spiritually.

7. Any insights for those on the fence about starting a regular yoga practice?

Sorry I'm not sure what advice/insight I can pass on except to say get off the fence and go for it!

At the time of writing Dee has completed over 60 classes and with 4 days left she might even hit 70 classes. Way to go Dee!

Live Yoga gifted Dee a beautiful restorative rectangular yoga bolster from Halfmoon (https://shophalfmoon.ca) in their ink fabric print. We hope she enjoys many great yoga practices with her new bolster.

It was an inspiring month in our yoga community. Every day, students would come into class and put their mats down next to their friends', ready to move and flow together or tune in on the livestream to take their favourite class on Zoom. There was a lot of laughter and joking around before class, but once we got started, everyone got really serious about their practice.

It was amazing to see the transformation that took place over the course of the challenge. Students who had never done yoga before were suddenly doing inversions, arm balances and other amazing poses. People who had been practicing for years were pushing themselves to try new things and go deeper into their practice. Everyone was just so supportive of each other and it was such a positive atmosphere.

I think the best part of the challenge was the sense of community that was fortified at the studio. We can't wait for the next May Challenge at the studio and all the inspiration both students and teachers offer.

Congratulations to all the May Challengers for putting their health and wellbeing as #1 priority through consistent yoga practice.

The Joy and Bliss of Yoga: Student Experience from the May Yoga Challenge