My girlfriend Katie and I have been loving the #mindbodyyogachallenge. It’s funny, Katie and I couldn’t be more different. Here are a few of the biggest differences between her and I:

Katie has 4 (gorgeous) children, loves to shop, wear makeup, (quintessential girl in that respect). She has lived with horrible back pain for most of her adult life, and since she started her yoga journey (over 7 months ago) it has subsided. In her younger days, she would tell you she was never an athlete, never worked out. She’s always been very tiny though, but an ‘unhealthy’ tiny. Yoga has dramatically changed her body and drastically reduced the amount of pain she lives with.

Now, onto me. If you’ve read The Kids section of my blog, you know I don’t have or want children.  I’ve never been a shopper, in fact really don’t enjoy it at all & love to save money. In the past year, I’ve probably worn makeup a handful of times, and would consider myself a tomboy at heart. I grew up playing sports, skiing, playing volleyball, swimming, I have been working out for years and doing yoga for about 7. Just in the past year or so, I’ve gotten into practicing more and more. Thanks to participating in Yoga Challenges, I know practice daily and have completely adopted the yoga lifestyle.

And that’s how we connected. So, Day 7, 8 & 9 speak directly to our new found friendship.

Day 7: Core
Affirmation: I am strong at my Core.

What’s a strong Core? If you know who you are, if you are always true to yourself, if you listen to your gut, your will have a strong core. In yoga, building core strength happens almost immediately – you engage your core in almost all poses. The strength in most poses come from your core.

 

Day 8: Connect
Affirmation: I am connected to my true self and connect to others with love.

I wanted today to be about true connection. The way we connect with others, ourselves, those we love. Sometimes I feel true connection happens only when you have a true connection to yourself. That can be super tough. To be honest with yourself, to be in touch with yourself, to ground down. Mike and I have been in Colorado for almost a year to the day and I already feel so connected to this place. Find your joy, your happy, what makes you come alive. Find that and pursue it vigorously.

 

Day 9: Nurture
Affirmation: My body is brilliant & I worship it like a temple.

Most people workout to change their body. Not strictly of course, but that is often at the forefront of someone starting a routine. Yoga truly nurtures your mind, body and spirit. Once you’ve decided to make a positive change to incorporate exercise, the Pandora’s box of health opens up. Taking care of your body with physical activity, good nutritious food, and positive thoughts, truly can change everything. It’s never to late to start either. Make that commitment to yourself to be healthier. Why not try Yoga!?

 

Happy Healthy Living!