I did yoga every day for a month

By Anna Bader

Exercise? I love it. I used to regularly practice yoga before life got in the way. I feel like the opportunity to devote proper time to fitness is dwindling more and more as each year passes. Before doing this challenge, I was squeezing in a short jog, bike ride or circuit training three times a week, at most. So, what's it like to suddenly find time for yoga every single day?

The idea seemed almost impossible with my busy schedule as a working mum. Why did I decide to do it anyway? Because I want to allow myself to take a break, to plan time out and to make me-time a must. We know all too well that making resolutions is one thing, but actually implementing them in the hamster-wheel of daily life takes iron-will, and this is sometimes a real challenge.

In addition to this conscious me-time, I'm intrigued by the benefits that regular yoga sessions promise. Which have been scientifically proven: yoga is relaxing, makes you feel calmer and strengthens your mental health.

It also tones the body (especially the core, which is often neglected) and makes our muscles more flexible. In addition, there are numerous other benefits confirmed in studies, such as better sleep, less anxiety, decreased inflammation in the body or a better immune system.

Sounds great, right? Let's see if I can feel any of that in my month-long yoga challenge…

Time is, of course, my biggest challenge when it comes to daily yoga. I have to find a slither of time when no child wants a fresh nappy, no Zoom call is pending and no meals have to be on the table. In other words, I can only do it very early in the morning or very late in the evening.

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For this challenge, I have to get up even earlier, to be on the mat before the daily madness ensues. Which is exhausting, to begin with. But after a short while I notice that these short minutes, first thing in the morning, give me an immediate hit of calm. Even when I don't get enough sleep, I still start the day with more energy. At most, I do about 30 minutes of yoga, and notice that this helps me react more calmly in stressful situations.

After two weeks I'm in so deep, and I can't imagine life without my yoga practice. I can't wait to jump out of bed in the morning and look for a new yoga video on YouTube.

In the past, I used to attend classes regularly, and this knowledge has helped me with doing home yoga sessions because I already know most of the poses and where potential mistakes can creep in. After watching a few beginner videos, I really enjoy testing myself as I work my way through the different styles. I also quickly find favourites that I always go back to.

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If I really don't have any time at all in the morning then I plan my yoga time out for in the evening instead. Again, there are great sessions to wind down to before falling asleep.

Skipping my daily yoga already feels out of the question, as the benefits have been huge.

The biggest advantage is relaxation. Instead of getting up on the wrong side of bed, and falling straight into the morning stress trap, I now have both feet firmly planted on my mat. Had I known how much good these few minutes every day would do for me, I would have started doing yoga again much sooner. It goes beyond this, as I'm much more relaxed and tolerant towards my partner now too. Likewise, I worry less and put less pressure on myself to be perfect in my everyday life. So what if I swap the mountain of laundry for the mountain posture in the evening? It's hardly the end of the world.

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Then there are the really noticeable physical benefits. Number 1: I have less tension in my neck. Normally I can feel a pinching sensation almost every day when I'm sitting in front of the PC or carrying my little one around in my arms.

Number 2: I've noticed that I'm getting stronger overall. It's only small changes, but they show up clearly. For example, the more toned abdominal muscles make me sit more upright, and my upper arms are more.

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Thinking of trying a daily yoga challenge yourself? I highly recommend it. Everyone can find 5 to 30 minutes of time in their day and it helps with so many problems.

Is yoga easy? Not necessarily. According to studies, yoga is the sport where the most mistakes happen. So, in the beginning, it can be useful to take a professional beginner's class.

If you struggle with sticking to an exercise regime, then sign up for a yoga challenge. I followed a newsletter from YouTuber Mady Morrison; she has great videos that are easy to fit into your daily routine.

Record how your daily yoga practice makes you feel in a journal. If you have clear goals and benefits in mind, it's easier to stick with it.

We put the orange stuff to the test.

By Anna Bader

Honestly, of all my challenges – from switching to a vegan diet or exercising every day – the yoga challenge was definitely the best! Why? Mainly because it's super time-efficient.

You don't need much for yoga. A mat (a rug or the floor would do), something comfortable to wear, and you're good to go. Time? You don't need much of that either – for me, an average of 20 minutes was enough. That said, sometimes the day only allowed for five minutes and sometimes I was able to push it to 45 minutes.

Best of all, for this minimal time investment, you get a load of benefits. For me, these included notably less neck pain, less stress and a better quality of life.

I don't want to do without any of those things in future. So giving myself me-time with yoga is something I'll definitely keep doing.

This article was originally featured on Glamour Germany.