Bloomington's Co-op Yoga

"I feel great! Yoga is a cornerstone of my mental-health routine. I noticed that practicing multiple days in a row had exponential mental-health benefits for me. Especially after the third day in a row, I would notice feeling highly relaxed and very calm. I think the frequency also helped deepen my Savasana meditations. I was able to drop into meditation much more quickly and stay there longer without distraction. Physically, I think I deepened my understanding of poses by practicing so consistently. I feel very strong and more confident attempting difficult poses. I also really appreciated being at Ekah so much and being surrounded by the loving community there. It is such a welcome respite from the cold doldrums of winter here. It was challenging to fit in so much yoga alongside my full-time school and part-time jobs (not to mention friends and volunteer commitments), but the challenge (and the reward of a badly-needed haircut) kept me going. I'd seen many Strive for Fives come and go at Ekah without even thinking I could pull it off. I'm so glad I did it. A great way to ring in 2019. I'd absolutely do it again!"

"It was much more difficult for me to accomplish in January than in May because of the weather, but also made the month go by much faster, which I needed. I definitely noticed physical changes; I feel stronger than before I started the challenge, particularly in my shoulders. I’ve also inspired my friends near and far to practice yoga again, which is kind of cool. 

Mentally, the challenge was also difficult because it made me go to yin classes, which are much more difficult for me to endure than faster-paced classes that don’t provide as much space for intrusive thoughts. Overall, the challenge was constructive for my personal wellbeing and health, particularly during a time of elevated anxiety."

"After the first week, continuing the challenge was easy. I felt so good physically and mentally that I kept wanting to go to classes. I noticed that whenever my mind wandered during the day, I was able to pull my focus back to the task on hand easier. I lost about 4 pounds over the month and my core is stronger than it has ever been in my life! I would definitely do it again and encourage others to make the time for themselves each week."