Yoga can teach us a lot about patience and how we perceive progress. We can go to class to after class and feel that we don’t improve fast enough or find ways to get deep enough into new postures. This is usually because we don’t see the small amounts of progress that is made each week. So, I am starting a Pose of the Month Challenge. This way we can track our progress and see it happen over a rather short period of time! Here’s the deal:
Each month, I am going to pick out a posture to do, and I will take a photo of myself at the beginning of the month. Then, I will challenge myself to do the pose each day for one month. At the end of the month, I will take another photo to see how far I’ve come. I challenge you to do the same! You can use the same posture I am, or you can pick one of your own. The important thing is that you set an intension and stick to it each day.
This month’s pose is… (drumroll please)
Bird of Paradise
Bird of Paradise is a posture that I have always struggled with. It requires an immense amount of control, balance, and flexibility in the hamstrings and hips, which are two places that I am not flexible. This posture features a very challenging bind as well. You can get into the posture from binding in extended side angle pose, then scooting the back foot forward, and finally standing on the non-bound leg. It’s very difficult, and is a posture that I have always wanted to improve on.
This photo was taken of me in the posture just two days ago:
By doing this posture each day, eventually, it will become second nature. It’s a way to see results in yoga rather quickly. In fact, usually you end up seeing results in a little over a week. Make sure that you still warm up before going into the posture you have chosen. At the end of the month, go ahead and take another photo and see how far you’ve come. You’ll be amazed how much easier it gets to transition into the posture after just a little bit of practice.
Join me on this fun challenge!
What poses do you struggle with? Have you ever just made an intension to figure out a single posture?
She Runs the Wasatch 
I love this! I’m terrible about maintaining a consistent practice and this sounds like a great way to incorporate more yoga and stretching into my daily routine! I’ll have to pick something a little less challenging to begin with, but I would love to do this challenge!
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I used to do this all the time. It started with seated wide-legged forward folds, and I would just hang in the posture for like 5 minutes a day. It was awesome and I saw improvement so quickly.
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Wow, that looks like a really impressive pose! I can barely lift my leg to hip-height :o) I’m looking forward to seeing your progress!
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I used to have my lifted leg completely bent, so I looked like a bird with a broken wing. Haha. It took a long time, but it came eventually. I bet you’d make some serious progress quick in that posture.
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One of my favorites!!!! I will never forget the first time I did this pose. I almost yelled with happiness which would have been completely inappropriate in a crowded yoga studio. 🙂 I LOVE Pose of the Month and will do this with you EVERY MONTH!
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Awesome! I’m glad to get some yogis on board to practice with me! Bird of Paradise is such a challenge for me because my hamstrings have never been all that compliant. I was pretty excited to get it the first time too. Haha. If nothing else, a month of doing it will make my transition smoother, which is always a good thing.
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