4×4 Challenge – The next best thing to 30 Days!

My last 30 Day challenge ended on day 25. I arrived to practice the last class of the day, the teacher was sick and guess who had to teach? So my challenge ended quite abruptly, leaving me a little disappointed to say the least. That was back in May. Ripe for another crack at it, I started entertaining the idea when Manyia, Bikram Yoga Noosa & Kawana owner, announced a 4×4 Challenge starting in Oct – 4 Days a week for 4 weeks. Perfect timing!

Yes, you may scoff but sometimes a 30 Day Challenge is arguably impossible. Not physically extreme as such but some John and Jennifer’s out there have extreme lives to start with and it’s like the dream holiday that never eventuates. A 4×4 Challenge is the next best thing! Starts Mon, so let’s all have a go this time around. If you regularly practice 4, make it 5, after all, it is a challenge!

Here are some challenge tips to keep you regular:

Take the decision away.

Book it in. Choose your classes for the week ahead and enter them in your calendar. On the day, the decision has already been made; practice whether you feel good, bad or ugly. A brilliant approach where you may experience your best practice on your worst day – no expectations!

Make it easy.

Pack your yoga bag already. Select your outfit, fill your water bottle, pack your mat & towel and place it near your front door the night before. You’ll hit the floor running and won’t forget your kit, especially when you book a 6am class!

Fuel your body.

Simple tricks to hydrate and up your energy:

• Drink out of a water bottle during the day – it’s easier to keep track of how much you’re consuming.
• Have healthy snacks prepared like a container of dried fruit and nuts that you can nibble during the day or straight after class.
• Make a green smoothie or protein shake the night before so if you miss lunch you still have the stamina for your afternoon class.

Don’t build your temple in a day.

If you set too many restrictions on yourself before a challenge, it may take the pleasure out of it. If you want to go caffeine free for the month, great but if you cut coffee, teetotal, go organic, vegan, ferrel, meditate at sunrise and levitate while watering your garden at sunset, you may not make it or simply miss the point. A challenge is about finding balance.

Tell the world.

Any challenge is something special and you have the right to be excited and passionate, so broadcast it. The best thing is now you will be held accountable and as your friends and family observe your perseverance, their mocks will turn to encouragement, especially when you start to smile more with your bright red, sweaty, beautiful face.

Reward yourself!

I don’t mean a tub of ice-cream or ass-cream I like to call it because that’s where it ends up! Why not something cool to inspire your Yoga practice like a new mat, water bottle or some new yoga kit. Or simply finish each week with a cold refreshing coco juice!

Now get your diary out and plan week one. It doesn’t matter if you’re not local. For us in the southern hemisphere, it’s time to tune our summer swank and if you’re in the north, it may be time to get your winter wobbles in check! See you in class on Monday 🙂