Reflecting on my 14 day yoga practice completing Commune – Yoga for All with Adriene Mishler…created to promote self love, growth & strength for all.
I recently completed a 2-week long daily yoga journey called “Commune – Yoga For All” created by Jeff Krasno & YouTube sensation Adriene Mishler & wanted to reflect on how powerful creating a daily yoga practice can be for your body & mind.
September is National Yoga Month, which is why I wanted to end the month with this post dedicated to my Commune practice.
I was excited to get back into a daily yoga routine as I began Commune, because carving out a consistent time to find a form of daily movement can be hard, I’m not going to lie. It’s hard to dedicate necessary time to go to the gym, make it to a class that works with your schedule, quieting your mind, or rolling out the mat to do some yoga.
I feel my best when I commit to a consistent workout routine. And I use the word “workout” lightly, because I’ve slowed my workouts down drastically after college. I feel my best when I make time for my yoga practice. With that said, whenever I get busy, it’s the first to go.
I always ask myself why. Why do I give up something that makes me feel great.
It all comes down to time. Some days that extra 30 minutes of sleep is more important.
Balance.
This was one of the main reasons why I wanted to commit to Commune. At first I was unsure of how I was going to find the time to settle down & complete each practice…some days it was harder than others. I am working a ton lately, so some days I found myself doing my daily practice at 6:30 am & at 10:30 pm, after I got home from work.
I found the time because it was important to me.
Once I get an idea in my head, I need to do it to the fullest extent. I wrote down each day in my planner & felt such satisfaction once I checked it off. Along with the daily video, Commune sent out an amazing email written by Adriene as well. That helped me get myself on track as I mentally prepared for the day ahead. The daily reminders also helped me schedule out my day based on how long the practice was. No day went beyond 30 minutes. The daily practices mostly ranged between 22-28 minutes, give or take.
Since I really wanted to get as much out of Commune as possible, I decided that after reading the daily email, I would write down key points regarding the topic of each day. For me, this really helped quiet my mind before I came to my mat. I meditated on what I wrote down, what I took from Adriene’s words, & anything else that I jotted down in relation to the daily topic.
I started my Commune Yoga Journey on September 10th, which was the New Moon.
Any time there is a new moon, it’s a very powerful time in the universe. I had an energy healing session that morning & knew it was the perfect time to slow down & listen to my body.
Since I follow Adriene on Twitter, I was able to catch the news that they were offering the course for free for people who signed up in advance…which I was able to do. If you have interest in completing the course now, you are able to purchase it here & gain access to 14 daily videos, as well as, bonus material available to watch at any time.
Commune Daily Practice Journey
Day 1 – Notice
This 26 minute practice started slow & was no where near to advanced. As my practice has grown, I’ve noticed how I continually want to challenge myself whenever I come to my mat. These slower practices in the beginning of Commune helped me to slow down & observe what was going on in my body & mind. I am currently trying to find healthier ways to move through stress & become more grounded, so during this practice I took extra time to figure out how I feel about my current stressors & what my body is trying to tell me.
Day 2 – Befriend
Adriene has mentioned throughout quite a few of her videos on YouTube that if you can’t show up for yourself, who will you be able to show up for. Befriend yourself & understand that you have everything you need already inside. She also mentioned that a good friend listens. Be a good friend to yourself by listening to your body & what it is trying to tell you.
Day 3 – Align
This practice focuses on the decision to make time for yourself. For me, I thought about why I was committed to the Commune Journey even though I had a million other things to do each day. I thought about why it was important as Adriene guided me through a 24 minute practice towards aligning with that reason.
Day 4 – Ease
“Move with ease & find what feels good.”
If you are a student of Adriene’s you will often hear her say those words. Yoga is a gesture of self-love. It shouldn’t be forced or painful. This practice helps you focus your attention on your breath & finding your own path of least resistance.
Day 5 – Stability
Steadiness, when paired with ease, is how we cultivate a journey towards balance both on & off the mat. By moving with strength & grace on the mat, you will learn to take those lessons & apply it to life off the mat.
Day 6 – Clarity
This practice focuses on where you want to focus your energy & attention. Are you doubting or sending negative thoughts to yourself? Or are you watering your seeds with the intention of self-growth & self-love.
Day 7 – Prana
“Move like you love yourself.”
By focusing on movement & breath, this practice will help cultivate a flow of energy moving particularly up & down the spine.
Day 8 – Rhythm
Yoga is a moving meditation. You are able to go off the course & adapt the practice to your body in order to create a rhythm that feels good to you. This is something that I always do when practicing with Adriene. I adjust or challenge myself where I feel necessary, but I also enjoy the moments of ease. It’s all about finding your own rhythm.
Day 9 – Bold
“I am bold.”
Throughout this practice, Adriene has you whisper to yourself “I am bold” as you take a look inside & take up space on your mat. You are worthy of your yoga practice & your body will thank you for it.
Day 10 – Balance
On Day 10, I had a conversation with my energy healer, & she mentioned how life is a journey & how experiencing a little darkness will let us see the light more clearly. If this isn’t “balance”, I’m not sure what is. I thought that conversation was so perfect, especially because this daily practice topic was focused upon returning to a natural state of balance & ease.
Day 11 – Breath
This practice focuses primarily on the breath & the flow of air throughout the lungs & into the body. Different breathing techniques are demonstrated by Adriene, including Alternate Nostril Breathing, which helps combat sinuses, stress, & anxiety…while helping you find balance & prioritize moments of solitude & meditation.
Day 12 – Fearless
Manifest what serves you. Manifest in order to honor your full potential both on & off your mat. Cultivate that strength as you breath into your limbs & focus on what your body, mind, & spirit needs.
Day 13 – Open
“The journey is the reward.”
Yoga makes me incredible happy. Your practice should too. Yoga enables us to become responsible for our own happiness.
Adriene closed this practice by saying “the light in me honors the light in you”…which I love!
Day 14 – All
On the last day of the Commune Yoga Journey, Adriene helps connect the brain to the body in order to renew the relationship with our true spirit. She mentions how the world needs us at our best, & I couldn’t agree more.
We need to be at our best.
Yoga is for everyone. And that was the goal of Commune. Not only will this course help you establish a daily practice or meditation ritual, but it will help you experience yoga as a form of self-love & care, leading to a better connection with yourself & others.
Adriene Mishler is such a powerful & radiant force on social media. Her YouTube channel has just reached 4 million subscribers!! Check out her channel for tons of free yoga flows…her channel is my go-to! So much so, I created a list of 10 of my favorite videos from her channel, you can check that post out here!
Have you ever watched one of Adriene’s videos?
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