Remember that 40 Day Kriya? You can read about it in this post here if you missed it. I finished it! What did I learn? It was a lot like running! In some ways.
Get it done first thing
It is suggested that you do it before 6 am; the effects are supposed to be more powerful then. I happen to be an early riser, so most days that happened. There may have been a day or two I didn’t wake up til 6, but I still just got up and got it done.
You can do it at any time of day, but being a morning person already I found doing it first thing n the morning worked well for me. You feel so good when you’ve moved your body first thing in the morning.
Although the truth is I don’t run first thing in the morning. Because I’m doing Yoga. Even when I’m not doing Yoga, as it gets colder my runs get later in the day. I’m lucky that I have that opportunity.
I didn’t want to do it
Almost every morning I would get up and I really just wanted to sit down with a warm beverage and read. Kundalini isn’t easy. I knew, just as I know with running, that I would feel better after I did my Kriya. I always did. There are times with running that I don’t feel better afterwards.
I used to be a get up and go runner in the Summers, but over time, I’ve just found that that makes my mornings rushed. It’s easier to get up and do Yoga: no changing clothes, no eating. This Summer I often did get out there early, but I found that over time, that was beginning to wear on me. After 40+ days of AM Yoga, I am always energized afterwards. That’s the purpose of my practice, after all — which leads me to . . .
I had more energy
I decided to tackle the 40 day Kriya specifically to work on energy. While the last few weeks have been challenging, I definitely felt ready to get going most mornings after my practice.
I had to ease into it
Every pose has a suggested time. You are almost always moving or doing specific pranayama (breathing techniques) so it’s not just hanging out in the pose like Yin Yoga.
Sometimes I had to take very short breaks. I had to start out with less time than suggested. In fact, for most of the poses, I still haven’t worked up to the minimum hold times — although I’m getting closer.
Running is the same. When we start, or restart after a rest or an injury, we need to ease into it.
Final Thoughts
I know that moving first thing in the morning is a good thing, but the truth is I have struggled for a long time to find the right movement for me. I have tried early morning cardio, but I always seem to burn out on that at some point — or feel run down eventually.
That wasn’t always the case, though. When I was younger I often did early morning cardio. I worked outside the home, and I knew when I came home I might not do it. It worked for me then, but things change.
I have committed to AM Yoga before, and done pretty well with it, but I always seem to get away with it at some point.
That may still be the case; it’s only been 40 days, after all. Despite the difficulty, though, I plan to keep going. Not with another 40 day Kriya right now; that would mean doing the same poses for another 40 days. I want to explore different Kriyas (classes).
There’s always a sense of accomplishment when you finish something you set out to do — especially if it isn’t easy. Even better when you learn and grow from it. — Chocolaterunsjudy
How do you challenge yourself these days?
What have you learned from your challenges?
What have you been avoiding because it’s hard?
Linking up with Zenaida Arroyo and Kim @ Kookyrunner
This week I am also joining up with the new Runners’ Roundup linkup.
Chocolaterunsjudy 
Yay!
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I do wish I could motivate myself to run before work. It’s as you said it’s so relaxing to have a leisurely breakfast. But I always feel better after I run. It gives me energy.
I don’t mind hard things. My latest challenge is hiking. And it’s scary because you can fall. And get lost since I do now go alone. It is way more tiring than running because of the climbing and the height. And it often takes longer than a marathon. But exciting when you reach the top of a mountain.
Congrats on your streak. You seem to have found your niche.
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Well, niches change, all the time, but I’m happy with this particular style of doing Yoga for the moment (and can see doing it for a long time this way too).
As it gets colder, my runs tend to get later & later because it’s just hard to motivate myself out into the cold. I don’t have to go out for Yoga. 🙂
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True. I thought tennis was my lifelong sport. Who knew I’d like running. And now hiking.
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Congrats on finishing your 40-day kriya yoga challenge, Judy! So awesome that it makes you feel energized.
Right now, I am working on my 5k training. I am like you, I am glad I don’t have to rush out the door first thing. I can wait a bit until it gets lighter and warmer, which I am grateful for.
I tend to avoid strength training… but I force myself to do it and I feel better afterwards.
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I am also doing some 5k training. But loosely. It’s meant to be done on the treadmill, and I don’t mind treadmill runs, but i don’t want to run on it for all my runs. Plus it’s based on 4 runs per week & I’m only running 3 runs per week right now.
I actually do like strength training — and the results! But it’s hard to fit in.
Not having to rush in the mornings is awesome. 🙂
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I had my thoughts about burnout–I just feel like a committment to any kind of streak is really hard! Glad it worked out for you.
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I can be very committed (or should be committed?) sometimes. 🙂
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Glad this worked out well for you! I am a morning person and I prefer to get my workouts done first thing. I never have the energy to do much in the afternoons or evenings!
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I do like a quiet morning, and this is light activity — it just seems to work well for me. For now. 🙂
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I’m not a morning person at all so I really struggle. But whenever I’ve done a run or workout in the morning, I feel so refreshed and ready to tackle the day. I think I just need to make it a habit. Do it consistently for a time period and I’ll be better for it.
Thanks for sharing your insight on AM yoga and also for the comparison to running!
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I have always been a morning person, even as a kid — which is weird, my parents weren’t/aren’t.
The reason it’s a 40 day Kriya/class is to establish a habit. I’m trying out different ones right now. I really like the new one I’m doing. Not that I didn’t like the other one, but I was combining a couple so it was a longer practice.
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That sounds like a great challenge, congratulations! I do like the feeling of moving in the morning, but it’s been a lot tougher since Baby E doesn’t wake up until almost 7 am and I start work at 8…but I’m trying to make it work. I do yoga about once a week, I’d love to have a more consistent practice!
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I’m usually up by 5-6 (but I also go to be by 9). I do have some short Yoga practices on my YouTube Channel. 🙂
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Congratulations!
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Congratulations! Completing anything for 40 days in a row shows a ton of commitment. I’m glad that you felt like you had more energy. I find that is something so necessary, especially as we move into the colder months.
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The colder months always have a way of doing me in! So I’m really making a effort to enjoy Fall this year. So far succeeding — but we’ve had such a nice Fall, it’s hard not to enjoy it!
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I always run early in the morning, because of the heat during the summer and work during the rest of the year. I’d love to do some kind of yoga challenge. I need motivation to get back to the mat even though I know that yoga makes me stronger, and improves my balance and flexibility.
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Luckily for me know that I’ll feel better after Yoga seems to work for me. 🙂
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Congratulations on getting all those days ticked off with such a lovely start, lovely to read about.
I’ve been avoiding finding more volunteering opportunities, because all my normal ones have stopped. I have still been supporting people and being kind to myself where I can, and feel that’s enough. Oh, and giving money to charities as I am happily still working as usual. Doing yoga is also too hard somehow, but I know I feel better when I’m doing it!
Photo a day has been hard in lockdown but not THAT much harder than normal and it has got me out, and being mindful when I am out.
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Thanks, Liz. Volunteering can definitely feel hard right now. My hat’s off to those who still do volunteer.
Yes, sometimes it’s hard to do the things we know will help us!
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Congrats on finishing the 40-day Kriya yoga challenge!! That is definitely a commitment.
I am also a morning person. Right now I like to drink my coffee while I catch up on reading blogs. Then I go do my run. I like this routine and am used to it.
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Sounds like a good routine — except the coffee part, to me, obviously I’m in the minority.
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