30-day Stretching Challenge

Photo by Luemen Rutkowski on Unsplash

I recently added a morning and night stretch to my daily routine. For me, this gentle practice is a consistent way to treat my body as an integral part of my consciousness and to make amends for the years of mistreatment and non-acceptance. It also just feels great!  

Here’s a youtube playlist of a 30-day stretching challenge from Yoga by Kassandra

I’ve been using one video for morning and night just to keep it simple, but she also has a series of night time yoga stretches too, if you want something different at night.

Each video is 10 minutes of light yoga stretching. She suggests a theme for each day, with a followup video for a mindset practice throughout the day, linked in the video notes. But you can also choose your own intention for the day.

She sometimes ends the session with om. If you’re not familiar, the om chant comes from the Hindu tradition and represents the sound of the universe, the eternal. The chant is used in various practices to signal the union of mind, body and spirit in community. I find the vibration of the sound comforting. Thank you to Kassandra for guiding us into a new routine!

Here are some benefits I’ve noticed from my daily stretching routine:

• Helps with neck, jaw and shoulder stiffness (where I carry my stress) 

• More energy in the morning

• Fall asleep faster at night

• More awareness of my body and posture throughout the day (I remember to get up from my computer to stretch or go for a quick walk.) 

Spiritually, I feel more integrated. When situations arise, it’s not just my mind and emotions that respond. I’m automatically pulling my awareness into my body through my breath, with a roll of my shoulders, straightening my poster, pulling in my core. 

And I find I can respond to what’s here and now with more ease. So, yes, please. I’ll keep this in my routine as long as it’s working for me. And I invite you to join me!