30 Day Hot Yoga Challenge: Joy

In December, Joy Clarkeson, a hot yoga student at Riverflow Yoga, emailed to remind me about starting our 30 Day Hot Yoga Challenge. We decided to postpone it til spring, but not Joy: she started her own 30 Day Challenge right as 2011 began. Joy describes herself as someone who jumps in with both feet, going above and beyond...she is using her Riverflow 30 Day Hot Yoga Challenge to gain more peace, calm and focus in her life. She's taking us along by blogging about her Challenge and its challenges along the way. Keep up with her here...and if you see her in class this month, encourage her ...you'll find Joy front and center for the next 30 days.

Update on Friday, January 7, 2011 at 03:19PM by Rhonda Uretzky, RYT

Here's Joy's first entry, Day 5:

Deep Peace, that is what I would call the 30 day Challenge. I am amazed at how much I have surrendered already, I have completed my 5th day.

In order for my mind to adjust to this challenge, I am finding that I am letting go of my opinions - ex. this is hard, too far to drive, I don't like that pose, my elbow hurts, too many words etc. . Just let go. All these opinions have melted away. Along with many other mental attitudes. I feel such a peace while driving home after class. I enjoy the ride home. I am already stronger. And I am loving the challenge for my mind, body and soul. It just is.

Also I am discovering by doing the same 26 exercises, it is not boring but gives me the opportunity to do a little better each time. I am getting stronger at a few of the poses , relaxing and being in the flow. All this is flowing into the way I feel about the rest of my life. All is shifting, so grateful for this opportunity to step out of my comfort zone. I feel quieter !!!

Update on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 03:06PM by Joy Clarkeson

Hellllloooooo,

Today is my 10th day.  The journey continues.  For me it feels more rewarding the more I sweat.  I wonder if your minor aches are less if you sweat?  Hope so, for I am developing a few aches and pains.   I am still amazed at how this journey is about my mind , body and soul.  It is training me to just be.  Thoughts drift by.  I notice the more positive I stay the easier the class flows for me.  

Certain things keep me getting stronger.  Allison one of our hot yoga teachers, is very enthusiastic, raises her voice, cheers you on towards the ends of every pose. Each of the teachers are very professional,  each have slightly different cues for each of the poses.  Which is perfect.  I have learned to understand and value the nonstop talking by the teachers.  Their constant cues keep me on my toes  !!!!!  But I am ready for a music class. 

Doing this practice everyday is humbling.  Keeping your focus on yourself is centering.  Actually doing the 26 poses is exhilarating, completing, balancing, rewarding and deeply relaxing.  I have been very aware of the daily commitment.  Staying ahead of the snow.  Went early today,  snow tonight, so my plan is to come tomorrow night by then the roads may be passable.  It all good what will be will be.    

Update on Monday, January 17, 2011 at 06:27PM by Joy Clarkeson

Helllloooo Everyone,

Today was my 16th day .   I feel so tired today.  Feel as if I could sink into the greenest softest moss for a long overdue rest and not get up for class tomorrow .  But my heart knows I will be up and standing in savasana at 9:30am.   

The reasons I originally wanted to do the 30 day challenge was to improve my strength, hoping to increase the mobility of my neck, increase my water intake, challenge myself to do something different....... all is changing.  I am realizing that this is truly a very strengthening journey of the soul.  For me, I am constantly shifting into the positive for if I choose to approach even one of the 26 positions with dread or ugh this is one is so hard then it is much more a trial. So I tell myself this is my favorite position and it goes much more easily. Even though I am really tired, I know my strength has improved. 

Why I have changed so much since my first visit to River flow ..........  my first day I was somewhat put out by all the talking,  having to keep my eyes open, the timing of each position felt forever.  Now I look forward to the ever flowing supportive cues, to staying present with eyes open, and surrounding to the length of each pose. Acceptance,  I have stopped complaining to myself, well about 80%, and it feels good.  There are many levels of acceptance each day brings a new type of surrender.

And I have with help figured out the best place in the yoga studio where I finally sweat.  In the beginning I played it safe where it was cooler for me.  The subject of sweat suddenly fascinates me !!  

Update on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 11:43PM by Rhonda Uretzky, RYT

From Rhonda: The experience of hot yoga, and particularly a 30 Day Hot Yoga Challenge, starts from where you are. Many people report physical changes in their bodies; others experience emotional transformations, a deeply relaxing peace and acceptance towards themselves and others.  The more you practice hot yoga, the more self you unfold. A 30 Day Hot Yoga Challenge can power-drill through many levels simultaneously; what you uncover can be startling, and life changing.

Joy started her 30 Day Hot Yoga Challenge on a very high spiritual plane; a lifelong seeker of spiritual oneness with a strong Guru/Spiritual Guide, Joy was already deeply rooted in her energetic path when she found hot yoga. Her awarenesses during her 30 Day Hot Yoga Challenge are nothing short of miraculous.

Hellllloooooo to all the marvelous hot yoga devotees,

I think I am becoming a devotee. Today is Day 25.  

I let the Riverflow staff know that I really really needed to attend morning class because I was going into NYC in the afternoon.  Of course it snowed heavily this morning,  and driving was a bit hazardous for my front wheel car.  But I utilized my new skills learned thru this initiation: I stayed calm,  breathed deeply, took the drive one breath at a time, just as I learned to do the 26 x 2 yoga movements in hot yoga class.  

I am feeling a big shift in me.

I am breathing differently and deeper into my body than ever before (and I am a very deep breather to begin with.) The words coming forth now are "lengthening" and "breathing." There are fascinating energies opening up within me that I can feel. 

Last week, I had a session scheduled with my spiritual guide and mentor, but when I called her to begin the session, she felt I was too tired.  She said that the yoga process I was practicing right now was an initiation and was shifting my DNA.   

One week later, yesterday, I felt stronger and had the session with my mentor. One of her comments concerned my commitment to the 30 day hot yoga challenge, and I would like to share this with you:

 "The passion and the process that you are going through with the yogic postures is actually creating a new conductive field between your physical body and the Avatar plane. So we enter the center of Oneness, the Source of Illumination, and open to the Divine Purpose for this experience and revelations of wisdom that guide AliAma (this is my Light Name) in her Master Path as an Avatar for the consciousness of the light. You are to be known by yourself and by these as an Avatar of the consciousness of light. That is how we the Elohim refer to you. That is how you are known on the plane of consciousness of the Elohim through the Master Realms and by the Shambhala Masters. Do you resonate with this affirmation of who you are and your role in service to humanity? That question came from the Elohim to you, AliAma. Are you with me? There is not a part of you that can do anything less than surrender to who you are and it is important for you that the affirmation comes from within you and that you don’t stand back from your light or the responsibility that comes with this light. That is what the Elohim is saying to you right now. That one of the purposes for you to be here with us as witnesses, is to be affirmed in the presence of the light that you are. And from the inner planes and from the deepest core of your Avatar being, to know that that is how it will work in the world. It is affirmation of grace and surrender to the authority of love that you are and to affirm that light, and the passion for it."

I feel that by surrendering to the 30 day hot yoga challenge I followed my inner guidance and placed myself in the right place,  in divine time,  to align myself more deeply to my destiny and to my purpose.

I travel extensively for service to humanity with great love and humility.  My 30 day commitment has strengthened me beyond my comprehension.  I am deeply grateful.

Class this morning was gorgeous.  Rhonda committed to be there and with great kindness patiently waited till I could get there.  I  feel she is as committed to service as I am on this journey.  We chose a music hot yoga class.... it went smoothly, gracefully....a gift, a reward for the trek in such slippery weather.  

Here on Day 25, I feel stronger within my physical body,  mental body, spiritual body, emotional body, well, all of my bodies !!!  I am on my way to NYC to celebrate and enjoy our daughter's birthday,  and will be back tomorrow for hot yoga at Noon, weather permitting... and if not Noon, there is always the 6:45PM evening yoga to look forward to.   

Deep Peace

Ali Ama



Update on Monday, January 31, 2011 at 11:38AM by Rhonda Uretzky, RYT

Day 28.  It is snowing again,  feels very primordial outside,  clean and pure.  

There have been many tests;  the weather was one of them.  I am grateful for Riverflowbeing open during these challenging hazardous travel days.

When I was staying overnight in NYC,  I did learn from Rhonda that if you were unable to attend a class at Riverflow

 during your 30 Day Challenge,  you can practice the series at any other hot yoga studio to maintain your Challenge! But I made it back to Riverflow.

So many different feelings, reactions each day.   Today I was more tired,  I took a class last night and there was only 11 1/2 hours between classes,  I have learned that a full 24 hours  between classes is best.    I find that I need to understand more about the positions.

I am also looking forward to taking a day off and coming into class fresh, full of strength, ready to utilize all that I have gained so far.   I am stronger,  I find myself stretching in new ways throughout the day.  My body needs the exercise and calls for it.  I have thought about continuing on to 40 days,  for the 40 day challenge has felt right.  The sixty right now is too far ahead for me to commit.  I have 2 more days to think about it.  I am glad in my heart that I will have completed the 30 day challenge.  It is very humbling to experience, to surrender over and over again to each pose, to each class, to stay in the moment and just do it.

In Harmony and Grace,
AliAma Joy

Update on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 04:58PM by Rhonda Uretzky, RYT

Helllllooooooo to all the intrepid Hot Yoga Challenge seekers;

Tonights class was my Day 30! 

Communing after class in the front room,  I mentioned to Rhonda that I could spend some time celebrating this achievement versus focusing on whether to add on 10 more days to my challenge.  I know that I have a pattern of moving onward to the next achievement, not giving what I have accomplished its due credit.   Another woman said of course I was going to go home and collapse.  All of a sudden I let go.  30 days was enough for now.  My body is thrilled,  my schedule is free to move about more freely and I am flowing.

When I opened to the 30 day challenge my schedule opened too.  There were not any blockages hindering my choice.  When I tried to add on 10 more days I failed to notice that things were not flowing, my schedule was complicated. 

I have completed what was needed.  Hooray !!!  I surrendered more deeply once again.  

Things that I noticed about my body after completing the 30 day challenge - I did not have any injuries.  Everyday I took a hot epsom salts bath,  used my hot socks on the sore spots and by morning I was back to normal.  I feel like I have more space in my body.  I feel like I know how to create more physical space in my body which allows me more structural fluidity.  I can stretch and bend further. 

I am not afraid to try.  On my 30th day of practice, I sweated the most.  It took almost 15 days before I could really sweat.  I love to sweat,  it is a reward.  I feel great, so much cooler too,  when I sweat.  

There are a 3 steps that I feel I was able to acknowledge with the help of Rhonda, Alison, Arielle, my classmates and myself.  I would like to share them:

-The first step is not to resist that which is imminent: the amount of effort that will be needed to practice a pose. 

-The second step is to embrace the process and to utilize these energies with mastery—to ride the tail of the dragon, so to speak.  You can ascend to great heights , if you but find the courage  to do so.

-The third step in performing the 26 postures is to allow them to affect your KA directly, through an invitation, and this is done through your heart. "The KA body is sometimes referred to as the etheric double or spiritual twin. The KA shares similarities with what is called the Chi body in some traditions (Taoism) and with the pranic body or etheric body in certain yogic traditions." By its nature, the KA can draw to itself, and then into the physical body, highly benevolent energies that accelerate one’s spiritual evolution.  Specifically you choose, through an act of personal will, to enter into the vibrational harmonic of appreciation or gratitude.  There are many paths and ways to enter the ladder that leads upward into higher states of consciousness, but regardless of how it is done, or through what spiritual lineage it is accomplished, our KA, the KA is the foundation. 

In profound gratitude and love,

ALi Ama -  Joy