I have been committed to 30 days of yoga in January since 2017. It’s actually one of my favorite January traditions that I look forward to starting in December! I practice yoga with Adriene Mishler, the lovely leader of Yoga with Adriene whose coined phrase “Find What Feels Good” is a repeated motto in practice. (It’s also the name of her app).

I found Yoga with Adriene on Pinterest over a decade ago. At that time, I was still a bit skeptical of yoga as the best workout for me. I was all about cardio and HIIT training or anything that made me drench in sweat. In the midst of one bout of workout dedication (it comes and goes, let’s be real), I found myself sick but still wanting to move my body. I searched for workouts to do while sick on Pinterest and a Yoga with Adriene practice popped up. I would come back to that practice anytime I was feeling a bit under the weather.

Eventually I moved on to other videos on the Yoga with Adriene YouTube Channel to supplement stretching before and after outside walks or other workouts. Then in 2017, I signed up for my first January 30 days of yoga. Up until last year, Yoga with Adriene hosted a new themed 30-day practice for January. Some themes like Move and Home would even match my word of the year! (You can read about my word of the year tradition in last month’s musing).

For nine years now, I start the year re-committing myself to my yoga practice. And that is what yoga is for me, a practice. It is not just a workout (even though it can be). It’s a practice of mindfulness, breathing, and peace.

While yoga is a solid foundation I return to over and over, I am by no means an expert. I can’t do Crow pose, I sometimes fall over during Warrior 3, and my arms shake in Downward Dog if I’m there for too long. Not being able to perfectly hit a yoga pose doesn’t keep me from practicing to get there. Perfection in poses is not the reason I keep coming back to the mat either. (Although there is a great satisfaction to hitting a balancing posture without tumbling out of it, I won’t lie to you).

I practice yoga because it makes me feel good. The Yoga with Adriene motto of “Find What Feels Good” is on point then. I feel better not only physically when I practice consistently but I also feel good mentally and emotionally. I’ve leaned on yoga during tough times both personal and ones with the world at large. During the COVID lockdown, I did A LOT of yoga!

I just finished up this year’s January yoga. I completed every practice, every day. Something that doesn’t always happen due to sickness (or injury, looking at you 2024). The final day was a livestream practice with Adriene (and Benji!), which I absolutely loved. There is something magical about knowing you’re practicing in real time with someone who you truly admire and with a community of fellow practitioners from across the world.

I’ve decided to keep my everyday yoga practice going in February and March this year. (I have a trip planned at the end of March that I’d like to be semi in shape for. Plus, ::gestures around at the state of the US::) Usually once January is over, I move into a routine of practicing Saturday-Thursday, taking Fridays off. In warm weather, I take Wednesdays off to get outside for a walk in nature. Sometimes I stick with this routine, other times I lose my way to the mat. The important thing though is I always find my way back.

The yoga mat, a practice, and Yoga with Adriene are always there when I need it. I am eternally grateful to have found a place that means so much to me.

In honor of it, I hope you’ll take a moment to “breathe lots of love in and breathe lots of love out”. Another Yoga with Adriene phrase that I love.

Inhale love, exhale love.

Namaste.